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After months of silence followed by an uncomfortable interview with GQ magazine, actor Sydney Sweeney has finally addressed her controversial American Eagle advertisement head-on.
In an interview with People magazine published Friday, the “Euphoria” star said she regrets not addressing the polarizing ad campaign sooner.
“I’m against hate and divisiveness,” the 28-year-old told the publication. “In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.”
“So, I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us,” she added.
American Eagle launched the ad campaign, titled “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” in July. One of the ads shows Sweeney zipping up her denim jeans while lounging on top of a car.
“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color,” she says. “My jeans are blue.”
The blond-haired, blue-eyed actor’s play on the words “genes” and “jeans” drew fierce backlash, with some accusing American Eagle of promoting eugenics, “white supremacy” and “Nazi propaganda.”
Sweeney told People, in an interview tied to her new movie “The Housemaid,” also starring Amanda Seyfried, that she “was honestly surprised by the reaction.”
“I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign,” she said. “Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”
Amid the backlash, American Eagle doubled down, saying that the ad was “always about jeans.”
“Her jeans. Her story,” the post read. “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
The company did not immediately return a request for comment on Saturday.
Sweeney first broke her silence in an interview for a GQ magazine cover story published on Nov. 4. In an on-camera interview with an editor for the men’s publication, Sweeney appeared less than eager to discuss the ad campaign, sparking a new wave of criticism.
“I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans,” she said to GQ. “All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life.”
The journalist then noted that President Donald Trump praised Sweeney, who is a registered Republican, and the ad in a post on Truth Social, calling it the “‘HOTTEST’ ad out there,” and asked her what that was like.
“It was surreal,” she said.
When the interviewer gave her another chance to address the backlash against the ad, Sweeney again declined to elaborate, saying: “When I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear.”
She told People that she wants to take a different approach going forward.
“You know this past year I have tried to be strong but it’s been really hard at times,” she said. “I think this next year I want to be really intentional with showing people who I am and what I want, cause so many people can just get it wrong.”
A representative for Sweeney did not immediately return a request for further comment.
