White House Calls Sydney Sweeney Ad Backlash Cancel Culture Run Amok

The American Eagle jeans advertisement featuring Sydney Sweeney has sparked significant controversy due to its wordplay on "jeans" and "genes," with critics accusing the campaign of promoting white supremacy and eugenics. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, a longtime adviser to President Donald Trump, condemned the backlash as "cancel culture run amok," attributing it to liberal overreach and linking it to the 2024 election outcomes. The campaign, which is American Eagle's most expensive to date and aimed at boosting cultural relevance with Gen-Z, has divided public opinion, with conservative figures like Megyn Kelly defending it as a simple ad about jeans rather than race. Critics argue that the ad's racial undertones are inappropriate in the current political climate, while some social media reactions have gone viral accusing it of coded fascist messaging. Despite the uproar, American Eagle's internal polling reportedly shows most customers do not share the negative views expressed online. Neither Sydney Sweeney nor American Eagle has publicly responded to the controversy, but the debate highlights the challenges brands face navigating cultural sensitivity and marketing in a polarized environment.