Sydney Sweeney Denies Controversy, Says She “Doesn’t Support the Views” Linked to Her American Eagle Campaign: “Many Have Assigned Motives and Labels To Me”

Sydney Sweeney has spoken out about the controversy surrounding her American Eagle denim campaign in a new interview with PEOPLE.

The ad, titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” was released on July 23 and quickly sparked debate online. Critics argued that the campaign’s wordplay on “jeans” and “genes” could be seen as racially insensitive, while others said it seemed designed for the male gaze, echoing Brooke Shields’ famous 1980 denim campaign.

Sweeney said she was surprised by the response. “I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true,” she said.

She added that she wants to address the backlash with kindness and clarity. “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness,” Sweeney said. She explained that staying silent had widened the divide and that she hopes people will focus more on common ground moving forward.

American Eagle also defended the campaign on social media. In an August 1 Instagram post, the brand said the ad was always about the jeans and the story behind them, emphasizing confidence and individuality.

Sweeney had first spoken about the ad in a GQ interview in November, noting that she wears jeans nearly every day and that the strong reaction caught her off guard. “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,” she told the magazine.

Despite the debate, the campaign was a commercial success. American Eagle reported record-breaking sales for both men’s and women’s denim after the launch. The Sydney Jacket sold out in one day, and the Sydney Jean, a custom style promoted by Sweeney with proceeds benefiting the Crisis Text Line, sold out within a week.

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