American actress Sydney Sweeney has become the center of a viral controversy after her latest advertisement for American Eagle triggered an unexpected political and cultural debate online. The 27-year-old star of Euphoria and The White Lotus appears in a denim campaign that plays on the similarity between the words “genes” and “jeans.”

In the video, Sweeney says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring… My jeans are blue,” while modeling a pair of American Eagle jeans. While the ad was intended as a light-hearted pun, some social media users criticized the campaign, claiming it echoed themes historically associated with eugenics, due to its focus on inherited traits and Sweeney’s blue-eyed, blonde-haired appearance.

American Eagle has defended the campaign, stating:

“The campaign 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.”

Despite the backlash, the campaign has gained immense traction—especially after  President Donald Trump weighed in.

Trump took to his platform Truth Social, writing:

“Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Go get ’em Sydney!”

Trump’s endorsement fueled further attention and even boosted American Eagle’s stock, which saw a jump of nearly 20% following the buzz.

Reports confirm that Sweeney has been a registered Republican in Florida since 2024, although she has rarely discussed politics publicly. When asked previously about political optics around her family, Sweeney said people should avoid assumptions and stop politicizing private moments.

Marketing experts say the campaign is a success in today’s attention-driven media environment.

“In modern advertising, sparking discussion—good or bad—is a win,” said Allen Adamson, co-founder of consultancy Metaforce. “The value of this kind of viral attention is far beyond what the company invested in the ad.”

Sweeney has yet to comment directly on the political discourse surrounding the ad.

We welcome your contributions! Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases, news story pitches, and news features to opinion@minutemirror.com.pk and minutemirrormail@gmail.com