Sydney Sweeney has shared her response to the backlash on her American Eagle jeans ad that came out this year.
The ad was widely criticized
Sweeney came under scrutiny following an ad campaign she made for the denim brand American Eagle in July this year.
The campaign was titled ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’, in a play on the word ‘genes’. Many found this was racially charged and holds hints at genetic superiority.
It was also compared to another campaign
The debate sparked by the campaign also included criticisms that it was taking inspiration from Brooke Shields’ controversial 1980 campaign for Calvin Klein which held a similar message.
Sweeney has now responded to the backlash in an interview with People published on Friday, December 5.
She finally had things to say about it
“I was honestly surprised by the reaction,” Sweeney told the publication.
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“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.”
The company had itself responded
Shortly after the backlash hit, American Eagle had made a post online standing its ground with the idea of the campaign.
The company wrote in an August 1 Instagram post, “’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.”
Sweeney said she disagrees with the negativity
The actress further shut down negativity, saying that she’s someone who ‘leads with kindness’, and added that she decided to address the backlash five months on to clarify her stance on it.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together,” she said.
She wanted to stay silent about it
“I’m against hate and divisiveness,” Sweeney added. “In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.”
“So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us.”
Sweeney was asked about it last month
In an interview with GQ published on November 4, Sweeney had been asked to clarify her stance on the ad campaign.
“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 responded at the time.
