Sydney Sweeney Responds to Political Firestorm Over American Eagle Ads, Declares focus on Self-Definition
Sydney Sweeney addressed the recent controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans campaign, stating she remains unconcerned by the political backlash and focused on her work.The actress found herself at the center of a national debate after the ads sparked criticism and, unexpectedly, endorsements from prominent Republican figures, including former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
The controversy unfolded as some online critics accused Sweeney of aligning wiht perceived conservative values due to the ads, while others decried the reaction as excessive “cancel culture.” The situation escalated when White House communications manager Steven Cheung labeled the backlash an exmaple of “cancel culture run amok.” Sweeney’s response, detailed in a recent GQ interview and further elaborated upon to People magazine, underscores her commitment to self-awareness and prioritizing her career amidst external noise. This incident highlights a growing trend of actors facing political scrutiny for brand partnerships and the increasing entanglement of celebrity endorsements with partisan divides.
“I know who I am. I know what I value. I know that I’m a kind person,” Sweeney said.”I know that I love a lot, and I know that I’m just excited to see what happens next. And so I don’t really let other people define who I am… I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for,and it was grate jeans,it didn’t affect me one way or the other.”
As the debate gained national traction,Vance mocked liberals for what he characterized as hysteria surrounding the campaign.Trump, upon learning Sweeney was a registered Republican, publicly praised the ads, stating, “She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad! You’d be surprised at how manny people are Republicans… If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic!”
Sweeney described the attention from Trump and Vance as “surreal” but maintained she largely remained unaware of the broader controversy due to her demanding filming schedule. “I kind of just put my phone away,” she explained. ”I was filming every day. I’m filming ‘Euphoria,’ so I’m working 16-hour days and I don’t really bring my phone on set, so I work and then I go home and I go to sleep. So I didn’t really see a lot of it.”
Sweeney currently stars in “The Housemaid,” set for release in theaters on December 19. Her full interview is available on People magazine’s website.
