Actress Sydney Sweeney has declined to apologise for the American Eagle ad campaign she starred in, which used the tagline “has great jeans / genes.” The advertisement drew widespread criticism online for referencing genetic traits, such as hair and eye colour, which some viewers said evoked eugenics or racial superiority.
In an interview with GQ, Sweeney said the campaign “spoke for itself” and that she is focused on her work rather than the backlash. She added: “When I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear.”
Critics had asked whether she regretted the ad’s message. Sweeney maintained that the campaign was about jeans, not genes. The controversy was amplified because Sweeney, who is blonde with blue eyes, appeared in a clip saying, “My jeans are blue,” alongside copy mentioning inherited traits like hair colour and personality.
American Eagle previously responded to the backlash, stating that the campaign “is and always was about the jeans” and emphasizing that “great jeans look good on everyone.”
Public reaction to Sweeney’s refusal to apologise has been mixed. Some have praised her for standing her ground, while others believe she should have acknowledged how the ad could be interpreted.
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