An American Eagle ad featuring actress Sydney Sweeney has ignited a social media firestorm, prompting strong responses from the clothing brand and drawing commentary from high-ranking political figures like JD Vance.
The “Great Jeans” Ad Sparks Controversy
The controversy began after Sydney Sweeney appeared in an American Eagle campaign, stating, “I have great jeans… now you can too.” This slogan, intended as a playful pun on “genes,” quickly drew significant backlash across social media platforms.
Many critics interpreted the ad as promoting a problematic narrative, suggesting it subtly pushed ideas of “genetic excellence” or racial superiority. Some even went as far as to link the phrasing to pseudoscientific language historically used to uphold racial hierarchies, particularly concerning traits like blonde hair and blue eyes.
American Eagle Stands Firm
Despite the widespread criticism, American Eagle has publicly doubled down on its campaign. In an official statement, the brand clarified, “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is, and always was, about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story.”
The company also claimed an internal survey indicated that approximately 70% of its customers actually approved of the ad. American Eagle emphasized its commitment to the campaign, stating, “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.” This statement followed a previous, somewhat conflicting claim by an executive that the campaign was tied to domestic violence prevention efforts.
White House Weighs In
The ad controversy even caught the attention of Washington, with Vice President JD Vance wading into the debate. Appearing on a conservative podcast, Vance mocked Democrats for what he perceived as an “meltdown” over the ad.
Vance suggested that the Democrats’ reaction revealed a “hostility to basic American life.” He defended Sweeney, calling her a “normal, all-American, beautiful girl doing a normal jeans ad,” and questioned why such a campaign would cause outrage among the “other side.”
His comments echoed earlier remarks from communications director Steven Cheung, who dismissed the backlash as “moronic” and a prime example of “cancel culture run amok.”
- The American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney sparked outrage over its “Great Genes/Jeans” slogan.
- Critics interpreted the ad as promoting problematic notions of genetic superiority.
- American Eagle has defended the campaign, insisting it’s solely about denim and Sweeney’s individual story.
- JD Vance publicly mocked the backlash, criticizing Democrats for their reaction to the ad.
The incident highlights the rapid spread of online controversies and the increasing tendency for cultural debates to enter the political sphere.
