SYDNEY Sweeney’s American Eagle ad sparks outrage – and sales?

The summer’s most talked about denim ad does not just sell jeans – it has sparked a fiery cultural debate online. American Eagle’s latest campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney is making the rounds on social media, but not all netizens are impressed.

Launched on July 23, the ad carries the headline: “SYDNEY Sweeney HAS GREAT JEANS”. In this campaign clip, the star speaks: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour.”

“My jeans are blue,” she noted. This quirky line quickly backfired, triggering intense criticism from different parts of the globe. Critics are accusing the brand of using outdated beauty standards and reinforcing racial stereotypes.

Understanding the importance of representation and inclusion

The fact that actress Sydney Sweeney is a blue-eyed blonde has not gone unnoticed. Numerous people on the internet stress that the ad campaign doesn’t understand the importance of representation and inclusion.

Social media platforms are full of debates on the ad campaign. In response to the backlash, American Eagle appears to have discarded the clip from its official channels – but by then, the damage had already been done.

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But in a surprising turn, US President Donald Trump has commented on the situation. Coming on to Truth Social, he said: “Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there…the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves’.” Keep an eye out for more details.