Sydney Sweeney addressed the recent backlash surrounding her partnership with American Eagle,characterizing reactions too the campaign as disproportionate and revealing a detached outlook on public support from prominent figures like Donald Trump. The controversy stemmed from images released in August featuring the actress modeling jeans, prompting criticism centered on perceived sexualization and targeting of young audiences.
The ensuing debate ignited a broader conversation about marketing to adolescents and the responsibility of celebrities in advertising. While sweeney acknowledged the uproar, her comments in a GQ interview suggest a disconnect between the intensity of the criticism and her own understanding of the situation, notably downplaying the concept of “real responsibility” for the campaign’s messaging. The incident underscores the challenges faced by brands and celebrities navigating increasingly sensitive cultural landscapes, and the potential for rapid public scrutiny in the age of social media.
Sweeney described the response from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as “surreal.” Trump, 79, publicly praised Sweeney and the advertisement in August after learning she is reportedly a registered Republican, stating, ”Is she a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad… If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.” Vance similarly criticized Democrats for objecting to a “pretty girl” selling jeans to children in the United States.
When asked if she felt “grateful” for the public support from such influential figures, Sweeney responded, “Hmm, I don’t think… not that I didn’t have that feeling, but I wasn’t thinking about it that way, at all like that.” This response indicates a level of detachment from the political dimension of the controversy and a focus on the campaign itself rather than the external reactions it provoked.