Sydney Sweeney is back in the spotlight, and for the wrong reasons. The 27-year-old actress has steadily risen through Hollywood ranks, whether it’s her breakout role as the emotionally complex Cassie Howard in HBO’s ‘Euphoria‘, or her flirtatious charm in the hit rom-com ‘Anyone But You‘.
But this time, she’s gone viral for something way more unexpected, a pun in a denim commercial. Her latest campaign with American Eagle ignited a massive firestorm online, with critics accusing the brand and Sydney of pushing “Nazi propaganda” all because of a play on words.
What Actually Happened In The Ad?
In the now-viral ad for American Eagle, Sydney Sweeney appears in denim while calmly explaining the concept of genetic inheritance. “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color,” she says in a soft voice. Then she adds, “My jeans are blue,” as she flashes her icy-blue eyes to the camera.
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TikTok and X users accused the ad of subtly pushing eugenicist ideals. “It legit sounds like Nazi propaganda — like American Eagle was sending us a message,” one person wrote on X. Another claimed that the ad was implying Sydney had superior “genes,” sparking claims that it glorified whiteness and excluded people of color.
Some people took it even further, arguing that the ad was a coded appeal to right-wing audiences. One comment read: “Yes. It’s literally giving off the fact the ad is saying she has good genes and that they’re better than Black people/people of color. Sydney is weird tryna use her beauty to appeal to MEN.”
Journalist Robby Soave hit back on X, sarcastically tweeting, “Sydney Sweeney is doing fascist propaganda, and if you like her, you’re a fascist too… is quite possibly the stupidest, most-likely-to-backfire liberal overreach social media pile-on in the history of the internet.”
‘The Sydney Jean’ Isn’t Just A Fashion Statement, It’s Also For A Cause
American Eagle has described the campaign as “a return to essential denim dressing,” and is using the high-profile endeavor to benefit charity. Together, they launched The Sydney Jean, a limited-edition denim piece featuring a butterfly embroidered on the back pocket. The butterfly is a symbol of domestic violence awareness, a cause that Sydney deeply cares about.
In a statement, American Eagle shared that 100% of the proceeds from the sale of The Sydney Jean will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit organization that provides 24/7 free and confidential mental health support via text.
Sydney, who has previously spoken about the importance of mental health awareness, was reportedly hands-on with the campaign. Financially, the campaign’s impact has been undeniable. In the five days following the ad’s release, American Eagle’s stock jumped by nearly 17%.
Sydney Sweeney’s “Death Of Wokeness” Image Explained
After her appearance on Saturday Night Live last year, progressive outlets began to raise eyebrows. One Slate article claimed that Sweeney’s skyrocketing stardom could signal the “death of wokeness,” saying her image aligns too neatly with the “idealized All-American blonde.”
Slate even wrote, “Her ascent is very good news for a certain population of people who were waiting for a movie star exactly like her — someone white, blonde and all-American who, unlike Taylor Swift, hasn’t yet provided the right with a reason to see her as a threat.“
In case you missed it: “Tell Her To Just Come Outside In A Bikini”: Sydney Sweeney Says Invasive Paparazzi Behavior Makes Her Feel Unsafe In Her Own House
In short, some critics feel her traditional appeal and lack of public political statements have made her a favorite among right-wing fans, sparking larger debates about beauty standards, whiteness, and Hollywood’s cultural shifts.
