Sydney Sweeney makes rare comment on American Eagle ad: “I’m against hate”

Posted On December 6, 2025December 6, 2025

Actor Sydney Sweeney has opened up about the backlash she faced in a recent jeans promotion ad for American Eagle, and has admitted that her silence on the matter might not have been the best course.

Earlier this year, the Euphoria actor came under fire for her advertising campaign with the clothing company American Eagle, which ran with the slogan “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”. Backlash to the campaign suggested that the rhetoric pointed towards eugenics. 

Until now, Sweeny has been tight-lipped about the ordeal. In a now viral interview with GQ, Sweeney was directly asked about her feelings towards the campaign, and she replied flatly: “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 also added that the affair was “surreal” after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, involved himself in the discourse online, coming to her defence.

Now, she has admitted in a new interview with People that she was “honestly surprised by the reaction.”

She added, “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.”

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

In what appears to be a nod to the GQ interview, she added, “In the past, my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press, but recently I have come to realise that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.”

Finally looking ahead, Sweeney finished, “So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us.”

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