• Actress tells People she doesn’t support views critics connected to the July denim campaign
• Ad sparked accusations of eugenics undertones due to “jeans” and “genes” wordplay
• Sweeney admits her silence on the controversy “widened the divide” rather than closed it

HOLLYWOOD (TDR) — Sydney Sweeney has broken her extended silence on the firestorm surrounding her controversial American Eagle denim campaign, telling People magazine she was “honestly surprised” by the backlash and declaring herself “against hate.”

The two-time Emmy nominee faced intense criticism after her “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign launched in July, with critics accusing the ad of promoting eugenics undertones through its deliberate conflation of “jeans” and “genes.” The 28-year-old Euphoria star is now speaking out as she promotes her upcoming psychological thriller, The Housemaid.

Sweeney Denies Supporting Controversial Interpretations

In her interview with People, Sweeney pushed back against accusations that the campaign carried racist or supremacist messaging. “I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand,” she explained. “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.”

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The actress described herself as someone who “leads with kindness” and emphasized her desire to bring people together rather than divide them.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness.”

Ad Campaign Sparked National Debate

The original campaign featured Sweeney delivering a monologue about heredity while dressed in denim, explaining how genes determine traits like hair color and personality before concluding, “My jeans are blue.” Critics argued that pairing this messaging with Sweeney’s blonde, blue-eyed appearance evoked troubling racial undertones.

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The controversy drew comparisons to Brooke Shields‘ infamous 1980 Calvin Klein campaign and ignited debate across social media platforms. President Donald Trump weighed in, calling the ad “fantastic” and suggesting Sweeney might be a Republican, further politicizing the situation.

Silence ‘Widened the Divide’

Sweeney acknowledged that her initial approach of staying quiet backfired. “In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press,” she told People. “But recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.”

American Eagle defended the campaign in August, stating it “is and always was about the jeans.” Despite the controversy, the company reported strong sales, with “The Sydney Jean” selling out within a week, with proceeds benefiting Crisis Text Line.

Actress Focuses on New Film

Sweeney is now turning attention to The Housemaid, directed by Paul Feig and co-starring Amanda Seyfried. The psychological thriller, based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, arrives in theaters December 19. Sweeney plays Millie, a woman who takes a live-in job with a wealthy couple only to discover dark secrets behind their polished facade.

As Sweeney attempts to move past the controversy, will audiences accept her explanation—or will the “Great Jeans” backlash continue to follow her career?

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