Sydney Sweeney has finally addressed the backlash she received for appearing in a controversial American Eagle campaign earlier this year.
“I was honestly surprised by the reaction,” Sweeney revealed to People. “I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”
The Euphoria actress stressed that she “leads with kindness” and is “always trying to bring people together.”
“I’m against hate and divisiveness,” she noted. “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.”
Related Video
Sweeney’s explanation comes after months of silence about the ad campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” Launched in July, the campaign leaned on a “jeans/genes” pun that a small subset of critics argued implied genetic superiority. The White House and conservative influencers nonetheless sought to amplify the controversy online, especially after it came to light that Sweeney is a registered Republican.