Sydney Sweeney has found herself at the center of online controversy again, this time over a cheeky jeans campaign that didn’t sit right with some people. The actress starred in American Eagle’s summer advert, which used the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.” It was meant as a playful nod to her denim collection, but many accused it of having racial undertones, suggesting it was a pun on “genes” and implied genetic superiority.
Now, months later, Sharon Stone has come to Sweeney’s defense. The 67-year-old Hollywood star spoke to Variety at the Power of Women event in Los Angeles, where she made her support crystal clear. “It’s okay to use what mama gave you. It’s really fine,” she said.
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“It’s hard to be hot, and I think we all know that. It’s really okay to use every bit of hotness you have — right here, right now — and go for whatever that is, because everybody has their own certain kind of hotness, their own certain thing, and you’re supposed to go for that. Because who are you not to be beautiful? You know, who you are isn’t an accident.”
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While some online critics accused the campaign of catering to the male gaze, others compared it to Brooke Shields’ iconic 1980 denim ad, which also caused a stir at the time. In response to the backlash, American Eagle released a statement saying the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stone revealed that she and Sweeney had actually talked about the controversy while filming season three of Euphoria. She even brought up a story about her late friend, legendary conservationist Jane Goodall, who passed away earlier this month, according to PEOPLE.
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“Because I was co-godparents with Jane Goodall, I said, ‘When Jane was on the cover of Life magazine for her work with gorillas, she was in her safari shorts and shirt, sitting with one of the animals that she was working with,’” Stone recalled. “Other scientists said, ‘Well, she only got the cover of Life magazine because she had good legs.’ And Jane said, ‘Well, if I did, then that helped me get more money for my research.’”
According to Stone, Sweeney laughed and replied, “Yeah, and I’m sure I made a billion dollars for the jeans company, and I’m good with that. Because, you know what? I’ll get another job.”
At the Power of Women event, Stone presented Sweeney with an award, describing her as confident and grounded. On stage, Sweeney thanked Stone, saying the Casino actress “means so much to me.” On the red carpet, Stone praised her further, saying, “She understands herself and she’s comfortable and centred and safe within herself.”
Despite the backlash, Sweeney’s fans have largely stood by her, saying the campaign was harmless and that she shouldn’t have to apologize for being confident in her own skin. Stone’s words seemed to echo that sentiment perfectly — that confidence and beauty, in whatever form they take, shouldn’t be something to hide.
