Sydney Sweeney is speaking out for the first time nearly a month after her American Eagle ad erupted online.
In her new Wall Street Journal cover story, the 27-year-old expressed her thoughts on the chatter surrounding her controversial campaigns. When asked if she’s been strategic about her campaigns, she responded, “Yes. Very.”
Though she didn’t address the American Eagle ad in the new interview, she did speak on another ad she did for the soap brand Dr. Squatch. In that campaign, which was released in May, it’s suggested that the product contains Sweeney’s used bath water.
“I think it’s important to have a finger on the pulse of what people are saying,” Sweeney told the Wall Street Journal. “Because everything is a conversation with the audience.”
“It was mainly the girls making comments about it, which I thought was really interesting. They all loved the idea of Jacob Elordi’s bathwater,” the actress added in reference to a scene in “Saltburn” when Keoghan drank Elordi’s used bathwater.
Sweeney’s thoughts on marketing come weeks after the actress made headlines for an American Eagle advertisement that caused online outrage. In the ad, she boasted about her “great jeans,” which sparked accusations of promoting eugenics. Many critics likened the wordplay to “Nazi propaganda.”
In the ad, Sweeney says, “Genes are passed down from parent to offspring, often determining traits like eye color, personality, and even hair color. My jeans are blue.”
Following the backlash, American Eagle responded in a statement saying, “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story.”
The statement continued: “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Originally Published: August 20, 2025 at 2:48 PM EDT
