NEED TO KNOW
Sydney Sweeney’s brother, Trent, weighed in on her controversial American Eagle campaign
The actress’ brother, who is in the U.S. Air Force, referenced the ad while sharing a career milestone
Critics of the campaign claimed the ad is racially charged and hints at eugenics
Sydney Sweeney’s brother, Trent, is poking fun at her recent controversy.
On his Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Aug. 6, Trent shared that he had been promoted to staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force with a snapshot of his certificate. “It’s them good jeans,” he wrote over the image, a reference to his sister’s viral American Eagle campaign.
Sydney, 27, teamed up with the retailer for its fall campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” which was released on Wednesday, July 23. Almost instantly, the ad sparked a heated online debate over its perceived messaging.
Videos published to American Eagle’s social media channels feature the Euphoria star modeling various denim styles while working on a car, auditioning for a spot in the campaign and speaking straight to camera about the new collection.
The tagline of the campaign, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” has prompted critics to claim that the usage of the word “jeans” as a play on “genes” is racially charged and hints at eugenics. Per the National Institute of Health (NIH), eugenics “is broadly defined as the use of selective breeding to improve the human race.” It has been discredited as junk science.
Trent Sweeney/Instagram
Trent Sweeney on Instagram Stories.
One video that appears to have been removed from some of American Eagle’s social media channels (it remains on the brand’s Facebook) sparked the most controversy. In it, Sweeney is seen zipping up her jeans while lying down.
“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color,” she says as the camera pans to her face. “My jeans are blue.”
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Others are slamming the campaign for catering to the male gaze and taking inspiration from Brooke Shields’ controversial 1980 denim campaign. Shields’ age (she was 15 at the time) ruffled feathers due to the commercial’s provocative tagline: “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.”
Shields’ ad also featured similar messaging about passing down characteristics from generation to generation.
On Aug. 1, American Eagle issued a statement in response to the backlash.
In an Instagram graphic, the brand wrote, “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans'” is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
American Eagle
Sydney Sweeney for American Eagle.
On Aug. 3, President Donald Trump weighed in on the American Eagle ad — and Sydney’s political affiliation.
While speaking on camera with reporters in Pennsylvania, the president, 79, was informed that the actress had been a registered Republican in Florida for the past year. The detail was first reported by BuzzFeed News on Aug. 2, citing publicly available voting records that PEOPLE then reviewed.
Upon learning of her party preference, Trump voiced his support for the campaign.
“She’s a registered Republican?” the president said in reply. “Oh, now I love her ad.”
“Is that right? Is Sydney Sweeney…” Trump added. “You’d be surprised how many people are Republicans. That’s one I wouldn’t have known, but I’m glad you told me that.”
Read the original article on People
