Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Isabel Keane

Report shows how American Eagle stores have been affected by Sydney Sweeney campaign

  • Foot traffic at American Eagle stores significantly decreased in the weeks following the launch of a controversial advertising campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney.
  • The 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' campaign faced widespread criticism for allegedly promoting eugenic ideals through wordplay on 'jeans' and 'genes', and for perceived racist undertones.
  • The controversy intensified after Sweeney's Republican voter registration became public, leading to figures like JD Vance, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump defending her.
  • Data from Pass_by revealed a 9 percent drop in American Eagle's foot traffic during the week of August 3-9 compared to the same period last year, a larger decline than some competitors.
  • American Eagle maintained that the ad was solely about jeans, while Sweeney has not publicly commented on the backlash.

IN FULL

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.