Trent Sweeney, brother of actress Sydney Sweeney, recently addressed the uproar over her American Eagle advertisement through a playful Instagram Story. The 25-year-old shared a photo celebrating his promotion to staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, captioning it with a nod to his sister’s campaign tagline: “It’s them good jeans 🥸.”
This comment comes amid criticism of Sydney's ad, which has been scrutinized for its clever wordplay on “genes,” leading to discussions about its potential implications related to eugenics. The campaign sparked a debate online, with many questioning whether the messaging crossed a line.
In one of the campaign videos, Sydney, known for her role in Euphoria, is seen lying down while zipping up a pair of jeans. “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color,” she states directly to the camera. “My jeans are blue.”
American Eagle responded to the backlash on August 1, clarifying that the phrase “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans” was intended solely to highlight the product. “Her jeans. Her story,” the brand emphasized, asserting their commitment to celebrating individual styles and confidence in wearing AE jeans.
The controversy surrounding the ad has also permeated political discussions. On August 3, during a press event in Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump commented on the campaign after learning that Sydney is a registered Republican in Florida. “She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad,” he remarked, expressing surprise and approval.
Since then, both the campaign and Sydney Sweeney have captured the attention of MAGA supporters. The Department of Defense Rapid Response account on X shared an image of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with the caption that he possesses “great jeans.”
Additionally, the White House’s official X account posted a photo of Trump from behind, seemingly shouting, with the caption: “Have you seen the Sydney Sweeney ad?”
As of now, Sydney Sweeney has not publicly commented on the ongoing discussions surrounding her advertisement.
