Criticism of the American Eagle advertisement featuring Sydney Sweeney
28 july 2025 в 16:13
Sydney Sweeney, one of the most famous names in Hollywood, is gradually climbing the career ladder in show business. From acting to producing, the star of the series «Euphoria» now appears in various advertising campaigns for brands such as the playful Dr. Squatch bath soap. But her latest ad with American Eagle has sparked wide protest. Social media users are criticizing the denim brand for featuring Sydney, but why?
Below, Hollywood Life breaks down the criticism surrounding the American Eagle ad featuring Sydney.
Sydney appears in various videos with American Eagle, but the main message of the campaign is a simple phrase: «Sydney Sweeney has great jeans». In one video, posted earlier this month, Sydney walks into what appears to be an audition room at AE, introducing herself as a «local hire».
«Hi, I’m Sydney Sweeney, and I’m from Spokane, Washington», - the actress from the series «Euphoria» says, adding that she is available for work as a «local hire».
In other videos, the brand repeats its slogan «Sydney Sweeney has great jeans».
The ad is being criticized by social media users for several reasons. One of the main criticisms is that the word «jeans» seems to be used instead of the term «genes», - as if saying that the actress «has great genes». Many claim that this has racial undertones, as Sydney is white.
Another common note is that the ad seems to be geared towards a male perspective, even though the jeans being advertised are for women.
Others have also expressed disappointment that Sydney attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish wedding in Italy.
Numerous Instagram users have flooded the comments sections of the AE videos in the past few days. One person wrote: «This is what happens when there are no people of color in the room. Especially at a time like this. This ad campaign got so caught up in this 'clever' wordplay and trick that the people in the room missed what was so obvious to everyone else, except white people. I would expect this from Abercrombie… but not from you».
«Great! More sexualization! Really cool, American Eagle!» sarcastically wrote another social media user. One commentator even added: «This reminds me of subtle Germany in the 1930s».
Sydney in her sensory era. Clean denim, subtle sound, serious style.
No, American Eagle has not yet released a statement in response to the protests at the time of publication
Below, Hollywood Life breaks down the criticism surrounding the American Eagle ad featuring Sydney.
Sydney appears in various videos with American Eagle, but the main message of the campaign is a simple phrase: «Sydney Sweeney has great jeans». In one video, posted earlier this month, Sydney walks into what appears to be an audition room at AE, introducing herself as a «local hire».
«Hi, I’m Sydney Sweeney, and I’m from Spokane, Washington», - the actress from the series «Euphoria» says, adding that she is available for work as a «local hire».
In other videos, the brand repeats its slogan «Sydney Sweeney has great jeans».
The ad is being criticized by social media users for several reasons. One of the main criticisms is that the word «jeans» seems to be used instead of the term «genes», - as if saying that the actress «has great genes». Many claim that this has racial undertones, as Sydney is white.
Another common note is that the ad seems to be geared towards a male perspective, even though the jeans being advertised are for women.
Others have also expressed disappointment that Sydney attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish wedding in Italy.
Numerous Instagram users have flooded the comments sections of the AE videos in the past few days. One person wrote: «This is what happens when there are no people of color in the room. Especially at a time like this. This ad campaign got so caught up in this 'clever' wordplay and trick that the people in the room missed what was so obvious to everyone else, except white people. I would expect this from Abercrombie… but not from you».
«Great! More sexualization! Really cool, American Eagle!» sarcastically wrote another social media user. One commentator even added: «This reminds me of subtle Germany in the 1930s».
Sydney in her sensory era. Clean denim, subtle sound, serious style.
No, American Eagle has not yet released a statement in response to the protests at the time of publication
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
