President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Sydney Sweeney after the knowledge that she was a registered Republican sparked outrage among fans.
The Euphoria actress. 27, sparked controversy when an American Eagle ad campaign featuring the star was launched with the tagline ‘Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.’
The pun on the word ‘genes’ sparked considerable backlash from the public, who compared it to rhetoric surrounding eugenics and white supremacy.
In the advertisements, the Immaculate star says: ‘Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.’
After this, multiple news outlets in the US reported that Sweeney’s voting records show her being a registered Republican, though she has not spoken out about this.
President Trump has weighed in, saying ‘Now I love her ad’ after being told the news.
‘You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans,’ he added.
American Eagle has defended the campaign, writing in a statement: ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story.
‘We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.
‘Great jeans look good on everyone.’
The wording has been condemned by many, with people taking to social media to say ‘it was never about the jeans.’
‘It’s giving “I’m sorry you feel that way”,’ Moniquebutmo wrote on Instagram in response to American Eagle’s statement.
‘yup. it’s about “jeans”. after saying jeans “determine traits like hair color, personality and even eye color”,’ Luisaleaao pointed out, quoting wording used in the campaign.
‘So now “jeans” are passed down from parents to offspring? 🥴 Let’s be fr it was never about jeans,’ Mai_ktran added.
Others said this ‘showed them where not to shop’ while deeming the explanation ‘laughable.’
‘It doesn’t matter what your intent was—what matters is the impact. intent ≠ impact,’ Gabby Frost explained.
Others said they were ‘baffled’ that an important part of the campaign was not receiving as much publicity as the backlash.
American Eagle is launching The Sydney Jean, a limited-run product with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to Crisis Text Line, a non-profit organisation offering mental health support.
‘Apparently the weird fashy American Eagle Sydney Sweeney good jeans/genes campaign is donating some proceeds from jean sales to a charity for domestic violence survivors which is nice but also why didn’t you lead with that. Just say that instead of making it a dog whistle good god,’ Audrey wrote on X.
‘I don’t care about Sydney Sweeney and the “good jeans” nonsense or whatever. I do think it’s a very interesting choice though to be like “Yeah that ad was supposed to be a message about domestic violence” 💀 right… whatever you say, man,’ Hayden posted.
PoeticSeraphim added: ‘Making an ad that focuses on her body with creepy camera angles as a way to highlight a campaign for domestic abuse victims shows she has never spoken to a victim.’
In 2022, Sweeney hit back at those criticising her for posting photos with family members wearing right-wing political clothing.
‘An innocent celebration for my moms milestone 60th birthday has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention (sic),’ she wrote on Instagram.
She added: ‘Please stop making assumptions. Much love to everyone and Happy Birthday Mom!’
Metro has contacted representatives for Sydney Sweeney for comment
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