Sydney Sweeney Addresses AE Jeans Ad Controversy

Sydney Sweeney, the star of HBO's Euphoria, has addressed the controversy surrounding her summer advertising campaign for American Eagle Outfitters, expressing surprise at the backlash and regret over her initial silence on the matter.

In an interview with People magazine published on December 5, the 28-year-old actress explained that she participated in the campaign because she loves the jeans and the brand. "I was honestly surprised by the reaction," Sweeney said. "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." She emphasized her commitment to unity, stating, "Anyone who knows me knows that I'm always trying to bring people together. I'm against hate and divisiveness."

The campaign, titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," launched on July 23 and featured Sweeney prominently as a blonde, blue-eyed model. It played on a pun between "jeans" and "genes," which drew widespread criticism for appearing to evoke eugenics or white supremacist themes. Social media users quickly compared the ad to Nazi propaganda, sparking a global debate that saw Sweeney trending worldwide within hours of its...