Sydney Sweeney is once again at the centre of online debate after new video footage surfaced of her addressing the controversy surrounding her American Eagle campaign from earlier this year.
The advert, which ran with the tagline «Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,» played on the phrase «great genes.» In one clip, the actor, who is blonde and blue-eyed, spoke directly about inherited traits while highlighting her own appearance. Many critics argued the campaign inadvertently upheld notions associated with racial purity and eugenics.
The backlash intensified when the White House publicly defended the advert and President Donald Trump praised Sweeney, following reports that she had registered as a Republican in 2024.
Interview with GQ
Sweeney commented on the reaction in an interview with GQ this week. She said she had been surprised by the scale of the response and attempted to distance herself from the discourse, explaining that she had been filming long days on the set of Euphoria at the time.
«I did a jean ad,» she said. «I love jeans. I wear jeans every day.»
She added that she had little time to follow online discussions, saying she would simply work and then sleep. When asked more directly about the concern that white public figures should avoid humour connected to genetic superiority in the current climate, Sweeney replied:
«I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear.»
NEW: Sydney Sweeney refuses to apologize for the American Eagle jeans ad after GQ's Katherine Stoeffel continuously tried to get her to cave.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 6, 2025
Stoeffel: I mean, Trump tweeted about the jeans ad … that just seems like a very crazy moment…
Sweeney: It was surreal.
Stoeffel:… pic.twitter.com/F9ihaeMqeq
These remarks prompted widespread criticism once published. But the release of video from the interview has caused further anger. In the footage, Sweeney appears visibly indifferent, pulling faces and laughing while the questions are being posed. When the interviewer raises the matter of «genetic superiority,» Sweeney projects a sense of nonchalance and seems to roll her eyes.
Many viewers say her tone reinforced the impression that she is unwilling to acknowledge the political sensitivity surrounding the advert, deepening frustration rather than easing it.
