American Eagle’s new denim campaign starring Sydney Sweeney has sparked wild reactions from liberal critics. The ad campaign, called “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” kicked off last week with bold marketing moves like AI try-on features on Snapchat and giant billboards in major cities. Sweeney, famous for her roles in Euphoria and Tulsa King, models the denim in edgy scenes, promoting the brand’s wide-leg jeans.
Some Twitter users claimed the slogan “Sydney has great jeans” (which flips “great genes” in a playful typo edit) promotes “eugenicist” views linked to far-left extremism. Critics called the campaign’s focus on genetics “problematic” and accused American Eagle of being “inauthentic” for not featuring more diverse models. These accusations flooded social media despite the campaign’s partnership with domestic violence awareness charities and a limited-edition denim jacket designed by Sweeney.
Conservatives say the backlash reflects modern liberalism’s obsession with fake outrage. “They’ll find offense in a cloud,” said one pundit. The campaign’s Valentine-in-July release also caught attention for a viral moment where Sweeney scrubbed a giant poster of herself off a wall, declaring, “This isn’t about genes – it’s about jeans!”. Liberal commentators pounced on the ad’s phrase, ignoring its clear intent to mock genetic superiority claims while promoting denim.
American Eagle’s stock surged 17% after the campaign launched, adding nearly $400 million to the brand’s value. The success highlighted Gen Z’s appetite for bold marketing – especially AI-driven tools that let users “try on” jeans virtually through Snapchat. Meanwhile, Sweeney faced separate backlash over her controversial “bathwater soap” sales, which resellers flipped for triple the price online.
Despite the outrage, the campaign remained focused on empowering customers through fashion. “Our jeans adapt to your life, not the other way around,” Sweeney said in the ads, highlighting the denim’s reimagined fits and versatility. The backlash against “great genes” stood in stark contrast to the campaign’s message of body positivity and individuality.
Liberals’ relentless attacks on the ad revealed a puzzling disconnect. The same activists who celebrate “self-expression” accused American Eagle of using Sweeney’s blue eyes and blonde hair to push “white supremacy.” Critics ignored the limited-edition denim jacket’s tie to domestic violence charities, choosing instead to frame the campaign as culturally insensitive.
Conservative commentators called the outrage “progressive extremism.” “They’re offended by basic biology and good denim,” one commentator quipped. The ad’score message – encouraging self-confidence through fashion – clashed with activists’ eagerness to police language and media.
In the end, the backlash backfired. American Eagle’s market value soared, proving that strong marketing triumphs over performative outrage. As one platform noted, “The campaign’s real sin was being memorable – a crime in woke culture’s world of forced blandness.” Sweeney’s team remained silent on the criticism, letting her denim-clad confidence speak louder than any social media diatribe.
