Sydney Sweeney Ad Backlash: GQ Interview

Sydney Sweeney Addresses American Eagle Controversy in GQ Interview

Actress Sydney Sweeney recently addressed the significant backlash surrounding her American Eagle jeans campaign in a candid GQ interview published November 4, 2025. The interview comes months after the campaign faced accusations of promoting eugenics and white beauty standards, creating a firestorm on social media.

During the interview, Sweeney dismissed questions about the racial implications of the 'Great Jeans' campaign, which featured the tagline 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.' Critics pointed out the apparent play on words between 'jeans' and 'genes,' suggesting the ad implied genetic superiority due to Sweeney's blond hair and blue eyes.

"I know who I am. I know what I value. I know that I'm a kind person," the 28-year-old Euphoria star told GQ. "I know that I love a lot, and I know that I'm just excited to see what happens next. And so I don't really let other people define who I am."

When directly asked about the controversy, Sweeney remained unfazed: "I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I'm literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life."

The controversy erupted in July 2025 when American Eagle launched the campaign featuring Sweeney explaining, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue." The brand eventually removed a promotional video amid mounting complaints, though former President Donald Trump notably endorsed the ad for what he called its rejection of 'woke' marketing.

Photographer Misan Harriman was particularly critical of Sweeney's response, uploading a clip of the GQ interview to Instagram with a pointed critique. "Presuming that you are not a white supremacist, at least say how horrified you were by how this campaign was amplified and celebrated by unrepentant racists who believe in eugenics," Harriman wrote. "At least recognise the harm your jeans campaign has caused black folk, the undertone of the campaign is that your genetics are superior to others, the play on words is clear as day and racists LOVED it!"

Sweeney explained that she largely ignored the backlash while filming Euphoria on a 16-hour daily schedule. "I kind of just put my phone away," she said. "I was filming every day. I'm filming 'Euphoria,' so I'm working 16-hour days, and I don't really bring my phone on set, so I work and then I go home and I go to sleep. So I didn't really see a lot of it."

The controversy took another turn when The White Lotus co-star Aimee Lou Wood appeared to criticize Sweeney's dismissive attitude. Wood, who played opposite Sweeney in Season 1 of the HBO series, liked Harriman's Instagram response and commented with a green nauseated-face emoji. Her reaction suggests she found Sweeney's handling of the controversy problematic.

Sweeney's comments about choosing when to speak on issues further divided opinion. "I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear," the actress said, though she didn't elaborate on whether the American Eagle campaign qualified as such an issue for her.

The social media reaction to the entire saga has been intense, with over 2.2 million engagements highlighting the deep ideological tensions surrounding celebrity endorsements and advertising in today's polarized culture. As Sweeney continues to promote her work, it remains to be seen whether she will address the campaign's implications more directly in the future.

The controversy exemplifies the complex relationship between celebrities, brands, and social activism in an era where advertising campaigns are scrutinized through multiple cultural lenses. For Sweeney, the challenge remains balancing personal authenticity with public perception in an increasingly unforgiving media landscape.