Summary
On Monday, American Eagle’s stock surged after President Donald Trump complimented actress Sydney Sweeney for having the “Hottest ad out there.” This praise came amidst a significant backlash against a controversial advertisement that critics argue supports eugenics, while some conservatives view it as a challenge to “wokeness.”
Key Highlights
As of 3 p.m. EDT on Monday, American Eagle’s stock rose nearly 23%, a notable increase sparked by Trump’s positive remarks about Sweeney’s divisive commercial released last week.
Earlier in the day, Trump took to Truth Social to commend Sweeney’s marketing efforts, asserting that “the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves.’”
Trump also mentioned Sweeney’s reported registration as a Republican voter in Florida, which emerged from various reports over the weekend.
Trump contrasted Sweeney with “Woke singer Taylor Swift,” whom he deemed “no longer hot” after her endorsement of Kamala Harris.
He referenced the resignation of Jaguar’s CEO, which followed allegations of “wokeness,” although the company stated the departure was pre-planned.
Trump suggested Jaguar should take cues from Bud Light regarding reactions to conservative-led boycotts, indicating a shift in public sentiment.
He proclaimed, “Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Why the Ad Causes a Stir
Sweeney’s commercial features her wearing the brand’s jeans while making a pun involving “jeans” and “genes.” Critics argue that the ad implies that her blonde-haired, blue-eyed traits are more desirable, leading to accusations of promoting eugenics. An anthropology professor noted that American Eagle seems to align with a certain political demographic.
Responses to the Backlash
So far, Sweeney has not publicly commented on the controversy, while American Eagle issued a statement defending the ad: “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is about the jeans, her story. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Supporters of Sweeney
A number of prominent Republicans have come to Sweeney’s defense, with Vice President JD Vance referring to the backlash as misguided. Similarly, Sen. Ted Cruz remarked on social media about the critique of attractive women, and White House communications director Steven Cheung referred to the response as “cancel culture run amok.”
Incident at Recent Event
Sydney, recognized for her roles in HBO’s “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus,” faced criticism at a screening for her upcoming film “Americana.” Footage revealed someone labeling her ad as “racist” while she arrived at the event.
