Actor Sydney Sweeney faced public heckling at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film Americana following controversy over a recent American Eagle advertising campaign.
The ad, aimed at revamping the brand’s denim line, drew criticism for highlighting the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actor with the phrase “good jeans” — a play on words that many interpreted as a reference to “good genes.” The campaign quickly went viral, sparking accusations of racial insensitivity.
In a video shared by TMZ, a protester outside the premiere shouted, “Stop the ad, that is being racist” as Sweeney arrived in a pale yellow outfit. The actor, accompanied by her team, appeared unfazed and entered the venue without responding.
Online reaction has been mixed. Critics accused her of indifference, with comments such as “She’s just happy people are talking about her” circulating on Reddit. Supporters, however, defended the star, urging detractors to focus on more pressing issues. One social media user wrote, “This is not acceptable at all”, while another added, “Put this energy into the real problems.”
American Eagle issued a statement standing by the campaign, insisting it “is and always was about the jeans… Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Adding to the discourse, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in via Truth Social, calling it “the hottest ad out there” and praising Sweeney, a registered Republican, while encouraging consumers to buy the jeans.
