In late July 2025, American Eagle launched a denim campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney under the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” a pun on “genes” that critics argue evoked eugenics-era language and white beauty ideals, especially since the ads featured Sweeney’s blonde hair and blue eyes.
Red Banyan CEO Evan Nierman spoke with Women’s Wear Daily about his take on the controversy and how American Eagle and Sydney Sweeney can recover.
Read the full piece below: https://wwd.com/business-news/media/sydney-sweeney-american-eagle-ads-crisis-specialists-1237998486/