Sydney Sweeney's career has taken her from award-winning HBO dramas to brand deals in every other vertical. Lately, she's leaned into her bombshell image with a knowing wink, from hosting SNL in cleavage-forward outfit to bottling her actual bathwater for a Dr. Squatch soap collaboration.

But her latest ad for American Eagle denim prompted fewer nods and more side-eyes.

The advertisement shows Sweeney narrating a monologue that goes, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring…," before pivoting, "My jeans are blue." The ad closes with the line, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans."

Some viewers heard eugenics in the subtext while others saw little more than an attempt to be cheeky about how hot Sydney Sweeney is. So what exactly was the ad campaign about, and why are people calling it "fashy"? Here's a recap.

What Was The Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans American Eagle Ad?

The American Eagle ad dropped on July 24, 2025, first surfacing on X via the fan account @sydneysweeneydaily, where it racked up over 20 million views. The spot opens with Sweeney buttoning her jeans as the camera pans slowly up her legs.

In voice over, she says, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue." The closing line then splashes across the page: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans."

Critics honed in on the language around genetics, particularly in relation to Sweeney's blonde hair and blue eyes.

Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle, oh my god. pic.twitter.com/tDkeGT9R7G

— Sydney Sweeney Daily (@sweeneydailyx) July 24, 2025

Online, many users immediately drew comparisons to Brooke Shields' 1980 Calvin Klein ad, which famously featured a 15-year-old Shields asking, "You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." That campaign has long been criticized for supposedly sexualizing a minor, and invoking it as a creative reference didn't do American Eagle any favors in critics eyes.

American Eagles ad campaign with Sydney Sweeney is right out of Calvin Klein’s ad history with Brooke Shields pic.twitter.com/VJ2N4HEnYC

— Marlin, Esq (@nostalgiafkninc) July 24, 2025

What Were Some Reactions to Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Ad?

Online reactions to the ad broke into two camps. One of the most viral critiques came from X user @lavendersodaa, who initially dismissed the concerns as overblown until she watched the ad with the sound on. “I was eye rolling everyone saying this is weird master race s--- until I unmuted this, what the f---?" they posted on July 25, gaining over 60,000 likes in a day.

Others pushed back. On July 26, @uncledoomer scoffed at the outrage: "Why is everybody suddenly pretending 'good genes' is about eugenics when it very obviously means 'big huge b-----s,'" earning over 740,000 views.

TikToker @midwesterngothic added to the criticism on July 26, saying, "I might be the friend that's too woke," as they unpacked the ad's supposed subtext in a clip viewed 3.3 million times.

@midwesterngothic american eagle sidney sweeney ads: let’s chat #hehim #midwesterngothic #transmasc #advertising #marketing #friendthatstoowoke #sidneysweeney #propoganda #fyp #ooc ♬ original sound – midwesterngothic🖤🦇🍉

The following day, TikToker @carolinebaniewicz posted a parody rewriting the ad's script to joke, "My jeans are superior, and by that I mean 78% polyester and 100% German descent," gathering over 500,000 plays and 80,000 likes in a day.

@carolinebaniewicz She said light wash jeans are superior ???? #sydneysweeney #americaneagle #parody ♬ original sound – caroline

What Did Doja Cat Post About The Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Ad?

Singer and rapper Doja Cat posted a video mocking the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Ad by repeating it in a thick "hick" accent in late July, gathering over 16 million views in a day. Reactions to Doja weighing in on Sydney Sweeney's controversy were mixed as well, given her reputation for supposedly being in racial chatrooms showing feet.

@dojacat

my jeans are blee

♬ original sound – Doja Cat

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For the full history of the "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" American Eagle Ad, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.