By Sophie Albertie
Is it so hard to denounce white supremacy?
Sydney Sweeney narrowly avoided finally being uncontroversial in her latest interview with GQ. In a conversation littered with questions about the new season of “Euphoria” and her new role in the biopic of the professional boxer Christy Martin, Interviewer Katherine Stoeffel popped the question. One that nearly everyone on the internet in a certain age demographic was awaiting an answer to: What was up with the jean ad?
The jean ad in question was one of a string of promo videos Sweeney ended up doing for the clothing brand American Eagle only months before. One that stuck out like a sore thumb to viewers around the country. An advertisement for denim that had her saying things like “jeans are passed down from parent to offspring, often determining traits like hair color and eye color. My jeans are blue,” a bright flashy tagline quickly followed in big bold letters: “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”
The double entendre is not lost on anyone, but it was only until recently that real validity could begin to be discovered beneath the gossipy theories of eugenics and a strange air of genetic superiority. Before the GQ interview, Sydney’s role in the campaign was definitely questioned, but mostly American Eagle as a company was the real eyebrow raiser. Actors are given scripts and must work with their directors. Why put her in this situation in the first place? This was gearing up to be swept under the rug after being the center of many online conversations and speculations.
That was until Sweeney answered the questions Stoeffel had lined up for her regarding the whole situation. When Stoeffel asked Sweeney about her reaction to the online discourse, the tone shifted from a light reservation to complete defense. Suddenly, every response was a complete retaliation.
“I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction was definitely a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans,” Sweeney said.
Ok.
Stoeffel continued, getting to the baseline of the situation and granting Sweeney a chance to clear her name.
“Is there something you want to say about the ad itself? The criticism of the content is that white people shouldn’t joke about genetic superiority,” Stoeffel said.
“The ad spoke for itself. I think that when I have an issue I want to speak about, people will hear.” Sydney said.
People pin this on the actor’s intelligence level. Unfortunately, chances are she was just speaking her mind. In a decision to leave her personal opinions up to the imagination, she gave viewers a breadcrumb trail made of whole loaves.
It has become abundantly clear that the ad didn’t speak for itself, Sweeney did. Her target audience is rolling in dough, but still didn’t show up for the opening weekend of “Christy,” getting the box office rate up to only $1.3 million during the weekend the film debuted.
Now that’s an issue I could see her speaking about.
