Multitudes Witnessed Ted Cruz's Rebuttal to Sydney Sweeney's Jeans Ad Criticism by the "Radical Left" Faction
In a recent turn of events, actress Sydney Sweeney has found herself at the centre of a heated debate following the release of her American Eagle Fall 2025 campaign. The campaign, titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," is a celebration of American Eagle's denim heritage and an appeal to its Gen Z audience with denim styles described as "trendsetting," "versatile," and designed to make customers feel good.
However, the campaign has sparked controversy, with some critics suggesting it aligns with the growing conservative/right-wing/white supremacy movement. This interpretation is based on the term "blue" in the ad, historically tied to whiteness and aristocratic lineage.
Sen. Ted Cruz has been one of the prominent figures defending the ads. He doubled down on his remarks while appearing on Fox News, using the Sweeney furor as an example of how extreme he feels the Democratic Party has become. Cruz also expressed a politically charged take on the controversy on a social media platform, formerly Twitter. He stated that this week, the Democrats have decided that they hate beautiful women, in reference to the Sweeney controversy.
Megyn Kelly, former Fox News host, is among the conservatives defending the ads. Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director, has also voiced his support.
The comparison of the American Eagle ads to Brooke Shields' 1980 Calvin Klein campaign, which also played off the words "genes" and "jeans," has been drawn by some. However, it's important to note that there is no evidence in the available information that the American Eagle campaign contains white supremacy undertones or that credible critics have claimed this.
Instagram account Style Analytics criticised the ad as a ploy to appease conservatives, while a TikTok user described it as "what happens when you have a bunch of white folk who all look and think the same."
Despite the criticism, neither Sydney Sweeney nor American Eagle has responded to the controversy. It remains to be seen how the brand will address the concerns raised by some of its critics.
References: [1] American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (2025). American Eagle Announces Fall 2025 Campaign with Sydney Sweeney. Business Wire. Retrieved from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250401005450/en/American-Eagle-Outfitters-Announces-Fall-2025-Campaign-with-Sydney-Sweeney
- The controversy surrounding the "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" campaign by American Eagle, a syndicated-huffpost article suggests, has reached political spheres, with Sen. Ted Cruz and Megyn Kelly, among others, voicing their support for the ads on social media.
- The timely release of the American Eagle campaign, despite the ensuing controversy, has sparked comparisons to Brooke Shields' 1980 Calvin Klein campaign, both featuring persons of note and a play on the words "genes" and "jeans."
- In the midst of debates over the potential alignment of the American Eagle campaign with conservative or right-wing ideologies, critics such as Style Analytics on Instagram and TikTok users have accused the ad of being a strategy to appeal to conservative audiences.
- As the general-news cycle continues, it remains uncertain whether actress Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle will respond to the ongoing criticism, particularly in the realm of entertainment and pop-culture, regarding the content and possible hidden meanings of their Fall 2025 campaign.
