A new poll shows that most Americans were not offended by the recent American Eagle jeans advertisement featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, despite heated reactions from some online critics, as reported by The Blaze.
The advertisement, released at the end of July, showcased the actress in a promotional spot for the brand’s denim line. Shortly after its release, several TikTok users and media outlets highlighted criticism from far-left commentators, with some calling the ad offensive.
The backlash was met with ridicule from many on the right, who dismissed the complaints as overblown.
An Economist/YouGov poll conducted between Aug. 9 and 11 among 1,635 U.S. adults found that only 12% of respondents considered the ad offensive. In comparison, 39% said the ad was clever, while 40% said they found it neither clever nor offensive. Another 8% were unsure.
The poll also found differences in opinion based on gender. Forty-nine percent of male respondents described the ad as clever, compared to 31% of female respondents. Seventeen percent of women said they found it offensive, while just 7% of men reported the same.
Some of the strongest criticism came from left-wing female TikTok users, who linked the ad’s tagline — “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” — to historical references about “good genes,” calling it reminiscent of Nazi rhetoric.
This is Nazi st, pure Nazi st! Saying that a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl has good genes is Nazi s**t! Saying anybody has good genes is eugenics,” one TikTok user claimed in a video.
The controversy also drew attention from political figures. Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the matter during a podcast appearance, saying the backlash revealed more about Democratic critics than about the ad itself.
“It actually reveals something pretty interesting about the Dems, though, which is that you have a normal, all-American, beautiful girl doing a normal jeans ad. They’re trying to sell jeans to kids in America, and they have managed to so unhinge themselves over this thing, and it’s like, you guys, did you learn nothing from the November 2024 election?”
In response to the criticism, American Eagle issued a statement clarifying the intent behind the campaign.
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
JUST IN: American Eagle refuses to apologize in a new statement posted to Instagram after receiving backlash for their Sydney Sweeney ad.
The new statement is already being met with more backlash from angered liberals.
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about… pic.twitter.com/xOvK12q65T
The poll results suggest that, while the ad sparked controversy in some online circles, most Americans were either supportive of it or indifferent.
