Sydney Sweeney Is Finally Responding to Her American Eagle Ad Controversy: ‘I Love Jeans’

Sydney Sweeney is finally breaking her silence on the American Eagle ad that sparked a social media firestorm.

The Euphoria and The White Lotus star, 28, opened up for the first time about the denim campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” in a Nov. 4 interview with GQ for its Men of the Year cover story — four months after the ad debuted and triggered public backlash.

When asked if she was surprised by the reaction, Sweeney didn’t hold back:

“I did a jean ad. I mean, 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,” she said.

The ad, which premiered on July 23, played on a pun between “genes” and “jeans,” featuring Sydney explaining traits like hair color and personality, then cheekily revealing, “My jeans are blue.” Critics quickly accused the campaign of promoting eugenics, which the National Institutes of Health defines as the “use of selective breeding to improve the human race.”

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Then, the actress was asked what it was like to have the president speak about the jeans ad.

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“It was surreal,” she replied in reference to Donald Trump‘s praise of the campaign. In August, President Trump voiced his support for Sweeney when speaking on camera with reporters in Pennsylvania and was informed that she had been a registered Republican in Florida for the past year.

“She’s a registered Republican?” Trump said. “Oh, now I love her ad.”

Despite the controversy, Sweeney’s focus has stayed on the fun of the project. In the GQ interview, she explained how the ad simply celebrates her love for jeans, not anything deeper.

Shortly after the ad dropped and critics voiced their concerns, American Eagle took to social media to stand its ground on the ad. In an Aug. 1 Instagram post, the brand wrote, “‘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.”