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/