Sydney Sweeney wanted to help domestic violence victims. That’s the part getting lost in all the shouting about her new jeans ad.
The actress from “Euphoria” teamed up with American Eagle to create a special pair of jeans. The jeans display a butterfly motif representing domestic violence awareness, and all revenue from its sales will be donated to the Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering free 24/7 mental health support.
This sounds like something we should all support. Domestic violence affects millions of Americans every year. Getting help to victims is crucial work. But instead of talking about helping these women and families, we’re fighting about whether a blonde actress saying she has “great genes” is somehow promoting Nazi ideas.
It shows how backwards our culture has become.
What Actually Happened
American Eagle launched a campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” featuring videos of Sweeney wearing slouchy jeans in various settings. The ads play on words between “genes” and “jeans.”
In one video, Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color… My jeans are blue.” Simple wordplay for a clothing ad.
But critics went wild. Social media users almost immediately commented on the advertisement, saying it evoked eugenic-era language that promoted the idea that white beauty standards were superior to others. Some even called it “Nazi propaganda.”
This is exactly the kind of overreach that turns regular Americans off from the left’s messaging.
Says the “everything I dislike is woke” person. God can you anti wokist not see you are the thing you hate? https://t.co/lRVOAZZK0i
— Timonious (@Timonious99) July 30, 2025
The Real Problem: Missing the Point
Here’s what should bother conservatives about this story. We have a serious issue – domestic violence – that affects families across America. The campaign features a denim line designed by Sweeney, with 100% of the purchase price of The Sydney Jean, priced at nearly $89.95, going directly to Crisis Text Line, a charity that offers confidential mental health support to victims of domestic abuse.
This is private charity doing what it does best. No government programs. No bureaucracy. Just Americans helping Americans.
But instead of celebrating that, the left chose to make this about race and politics. Many on social media noted that they felt the language behind the ad felt promotional of eugenics and expressed discomfort and disdain.
What Critics Are Really Saying
The criticism reveals something troubling about how the left views America today. Many online commentators homed in on how the blond-haired, blue-eyed actor was repping a prominent American brand in such fashion at a time when the Trump administration has attacked diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
So now being blonde and blue-eyed is somehow problematic? This is the kind of thinking that drives normal Americans away from the left’s message.
Robby Soave, a commentator with The Hill, called the claim “stupid” as he defended the Euphoria star on social media. “Sydney Sweeney is doing fascist propaganda, and if you like her, you’re a fascist too… is quite possibly the stupidest, most-likely-to-backfire liberal overreach social media pile-on in the history of the internet,” he said.
The Conservative Response
Many conservatives saw this differently. Despite the criticism, Sweeney still had supporters online. One fan on X wrote: “Woke advertising is dead. Sydney Sweeney killed it.”
U.S. President Donald Trump is commending Sydney Sweeney for her recent American Eagle campaign, following a wave of social media backlash over its messaging. Trump called it the “HOTTEST” ad out there and said the jeans are “flying off the shelves.”
This shows how hungry Americans are for normal advertising that doesn’t lecture them about politics.
( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump – Aug 4, 2025, 10:19 AM ET )Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the “HOTTEST” ad out there. It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are “flying of the shelves.” Go get ‘em Sydney! On th… pic.twitter.com/VKgcX5R573
— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) August 4, 2025
Why This Matters for Conservatives
This controversy shows three things conservatives should care about.
First, private charity works. Sweeney didn’t ask the government to solve domestic violence. She used her platform to raise money for a proven organization that helps people directly.
Second, the left has become so focused on finding racism everywhere that they can’t see actual good works. They turned a charity campaign into a culture war battle.
Third, regular Americans are tired of being told their traditional values are somehow evil. Some are embracing the political undertone of the ad by hailing it as an end to overly “woke” marketing campaigns.
The Business Impact
The controversy worked out well for American Eagle. Despite the backlash, American Eagle stock has risen 21% since Sweeney’s campaign dropped. Just one day after the ad dropped, American Eagle’s stock shot up 17%, adding about $400 million to the company’s value.
This tells us something important. When companies stop trying to be “woke” and just sell products, Americans respond with their wallets.
What Comes Next
This campaign shows that normal Americans are ready for advertising that doesn’t preach at them. Companies that focus on their products instead of politics might find success.
For conservatives, the lesson is clear. Support businesses that support American values. Buy from companies that use private charity instead of demanding government solutions.
Most importantly, don’t let the left’s culture war distract from real issues like domestic violence. “The thing that has been lost, for me, is that this whole initiative is to benefit domestic violence and a domestic violence charity,” said marketing expert Overton. “That is something that has really been lost in the sauce with all of the accolades and criticism.”
What You Can Do
Support the Crisis Text Line if you believe in helping domestic violence victims. Buy American products from companies that aren’t afraid to be normal. And remember that private charity often does more good than government programs ever could.
The real winners here should be the women and families who will get help because Sydney Sweeney chose to use her fame for good instead of just virtue signaling.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
