Sydney Sweeney recently addressed the controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans campaign earlier this year, speaking out more directly in a new interview with People magazine.
The ad, which featured the tagline "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," was intended as a playful pun. However, the phrase's phonetic similarity to "great genes" sparked significant backlash from some online users. Critics accused the brand of promoting white supremacist undertones, with some even likening the campaign to "Nazi-style propaganda," quickly escalating the situation into a cultural and political debate.
Sweeney told People that she was "surprised" by the public's reaction, emphasizing that she took on the campaign simply because she liked the brand and the jeans themselves, and that online speculation about her motivations was completely unfounded.
"I'm against hate, and I'm against division," Sweeney stated. She admitted that she typically avoids responding to controversies, but realized that her silence in this instance allowed misunderstandings to spread and deepen the divide. She expressed hope that in the new year, discussions could shift back to "connection" rather than division. 
The controversy, in fact, spilled over into American politics. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung criticized the incident as "cancel culture run amok." Vice President J.D. Vance also scoffed at the liberal reaction. Even former President Donald Trump was asked about the ad in an interview and voiced strong support for Sweeney after media reports identified her as a Republican voter, stating it made him "like the ad even more."
In an interview with GQ, Sweeney admitted that seeing politicians weigh in was "very surreal," but she hadn't actually spent time following the online debate. She explained that she was immersed in filming "Euphoria" at the time, working sixteen-hour days, barely touching her phone, and therefore didn't keep up with the escalating controversy.
Sweeney emphasized that she knew the ad's true purpose was simply to promote jeans, and that many of the external accusations about her character and values were both inaccurate and irrelevant. "I know who I am, what I stand for, and I'm a kind person," she stated, expressing hope for a future with less hate and attacks based on misunderstanding.
via： People magazine GQ