Sydney Sweeney has finally spoken out regarding the unexpected buzz surrounding her viral American Eagle jeans ad earlier this year, describing the whole experience as both surreal and surprising. The actress acknowledged the strong reaction while emphasizing her genuine love for jeans, noting that denim is a staple in her daily wardrobe.
“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,”
Sweeney told GQ for their Men of the Year issue released on Tuesday.
Keeping Private Amid Public Controversy
Despite the media frenzy, Sydney explained that she resisted the urge to engage publicly about the controversy, relying on close friends for support. She expressed confidence in her identity and values, choosing not to let external opinions shape how she sees herself.
She said,
“I’ll vent to my girlfriends. But other than that, no,”
and added,
“I know who I am. I know what I value. I know that I’m a kind person. I know that I love a lot, and I know that I’m just excited to see what happens next. And so I don’t really let other people define who I am … I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear.”
Busy Filming ‘Euphoria’ Amid Viral Fame
During the ad’s peak attention, including unexpected praise from political figures like President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Sweeney was immersed in filming the third season of Euphoria. Her demanding schedule left little time to follow the viral campaign’s reach or its surrounding debates.
“I wasn’t thinking of it like that, of any of it. I kind of just put my phone away. I was filming every day. I’m filming ‘Euphoria,’ so I’m working 16-hour days and I don’t really bring my phone on set, so I work and then I go home and I go to sleep. So I didn’t really see a lot of it,”
she shared.
Clarifying Business Impact and Rumors
Regarding American Eagle’s business during the campaign, particularly claims about a significant stock price increase following the ad, Sweeney addressed some misinformation that had circulated. She noted that despite rumors of declining in-store visits, these figures were inaccurate and largely speculative due to the company’s quiet period.
“I was aware of the numbers as it was going. So when I saw all the headlines of in-store visits were down a certain percentage, none of it was true. It was all made up, but nobody could say anything because [the company was] in their quiet period. So it was all just a lot of talk. And because I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for, and it was great jeans, it didn’t affect me one way or the other,”
Sweeney explained.
Protecting Personal Privacy in the Spotlight
With public speculation surrounding both commercial ventures and her personal life, including rumors linked to co-star Glen Powell and her film Anyone But You, Sydney stressed the importance of maintaining privacy for her mental health and well-being.
“The professional benefits for me of being private is for my own health and sanity. I think that if I let everybody in all the time, I have nothing for myself,”
she reflected.
“I’m just a 28-year-old woman who’s trying to figure it out, and I’m still learning and I’m going to make mistakes and I’m going to grow. And I think that it’s important to be able to do that without having to say every single thing all the time.”
Upcoming Projects and What Lies Ahead
Looking forward, Sydney Sweeney is set to appear in the new film Christy, which is scheduled to hit theaters this Friday. Despite the turbulence around the jeans ad, she remains focused on her growing acting career and personal growth, ready to embrace whatever comes next.
