Sydney Sweeney is not only turning heads for her iconic roles but also for her blonde hair and blue eyes. Over the past few months, she has been at the forefront of several headlines for her award-worthy performances and ambitious entrepreneurial pursuits. Bagging big-shot projects and prestigious roles such as Euphoria, The White Lotus, Anyone But You, and more, she has emerged as the face of a generation. But with growing influence comes growing criticism, and her decisions frequently spark controversy across social media and politics. As one of her latest jeans commercials gets in trouble, the outrage is not about ad faux pas, but it escalates to questioning symbolism and societal strictures. 

The internet is currently seething in rage over her latest viral advertisement. But what exactly is wrong with Sydney Sweeney's jeans?

Sydney Sweeney's new American Eagle campaign flaunts her Caucasian beauty with a tagline that says, "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans." This has come under fire for its pun on genes, as her white complexion, blonde locks, and blue eyes take the spotlight. Critics across social media are bashing it as tone-deaf advertising that disregarded deeper social sensitivities. Some are claiming that the pun has undertones of racial superiority. Some have even pointed out that it subtly echoes eugenics, a scientifically inaccurate theory that enforces racial boundaries and selective breeding, and white supremacist rhetoric. Instagram and X users have questioned the lack of mention of any other genes in the ad apart from Sweeney's.

The hate behind this ad comes from an identity politics standpoint of equality and representation, which seemingly has been set back to the 80s with such an advertisement, especially under the current shifting political climate. Several influencers have also condemned the advertisement as fascist, which sparked a viral outrage and heated discussion of the intent behind this visual and linguistic fashioning. The internet is also divided on this, as many consider the hate to be an overreaction to an ad featuring a 27-year-old stylish celebrity at the peak of her fame and beauty. 

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Whether it is her bathwater or genes, Sydney Sweeney seems to be on everyone's timeline, causing digital tornadoes with her career choices.

After each storm settles, Sydney Sweeney bags another major win. Her career path remains in full swing as she prepares to return in her Emmy-nominated role as Cassie Howard in Euphoria's upcoming third season, where she is reportedly taking a dark turn. In 2024, she starred in Madame Web, produced and directed the horror movie Immaculate, and co-starred in Ron Howard's Eden. Her illustrious filmography also boasts upcoming projects, The Housemaid, The Player’s Table, and The Caretaker. She is also scheduled to produce and play a biopic of boxer Christy Martin.

Business-wise, she is also introducing a billionaire-backed lingerie line, expanding her career beyond acting and producing. Though her latest American Eagle ad has also invoked analogies with previous problematic campaigns, like Brooke Shields's Calvin Klein ads, which were associated with a larger cultural degradation concerning idealized beauty standards, Sweeney remains unmoved. As controversies rage on, Sweeney marches forward, maintaining A-list brand partnerships unapologetically.  

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What are your thoughts on Sydney Sweeney's latest jeans ad? Tell us in the comments below.