Originally appeared on E! Online
Sydney Sweeney is addressing the backlash to her controversial American Eagle ad.
Months after the “Euphoria” star appeared in a denim campaign for the clothing brand which used the word “jeans” as a play on genetic genes — sparking a wave of public backlash — she explained her decision to stay silent amid the criticism, admitting she regrets not speaking out sooner.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together,” she told People in an interview published Dec. 5. “I’m against hate and divisiveness. In the past, my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it. So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us.”
While Sweeney, 28, admitted she was “surprised” by the negative response to the ad, she clarified that the controversy doesn’t reflect her personal values.
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“I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign,” she shared. “Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”
Sweeney previously discussed the strong reactions to the campaign in November, defending her reasoning for taking part in the project.
“I did a jean ad,” the actress told GQ at the time. “The reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life.”
And while the ad drew strong opinions from many notable figures, Sweeney maintained that the discourse “didn’t affect” her, adding, “I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for, and it was great jeans.”
Sydney Sweeney has a new fan in the White House. President Donald Trump appaluded the actress amid the polarizing response to her recent denim campaign for American Eagle.
