Sydney Sweeney’s Brother Turns American Eagle Backlash Into a Viral Win with “Good Jeans” Quip
Elena West here ready to fire up your inspiration engines because today’s story is a master class in turning controversy into celebration. Get ready to see how a simple joke about jeans became a motivational moment that resonates beyond fashion and social media.
When Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad campaign hit the internet, a playful line about her “great jeans” sparked unexpected backlash. Critics accused the brand of a pun so misguided it felt like a eugenics reference. In one campaign video, the Euphoria star explained, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue.” Instead of applauding the word play, some viewers complained that American Eagle was promoting the wrong kind of genetic discussion.
But before this story could spiral into a full social media meltdown, Sydney’s brother, Trent Sweeney, stepped into the arena with positivity and humor. Reporting for duty in the U.S. Air Force’s 48th Munitions Squadron, Trent celebrated his promotion to staff sergeant with an Instagram Story post on August 6. He shared his official certificate and simply captioned it, “It’s them good jeans,” complete with playful glasses and mustache emojis. What started as a family reference instantly flipped the narrative and injected a burst of lighthearted fun into the fray.
Here is the lesson: adversity is just the starting block for your next victory. While American Eagle faced criticism over a July 23 promotional video that some said felt male-centric—one clip even panned from her head down her figure before she quipped, “Eyes up here”—the backlash mostly aimed at the brand, not Sydney. One commenter summed it up best, “This was not the move AE, we needed and wanted something DIFFERENT as women.”
American Eagle did not shy away. On August 1, the brand clarified in an Instagram statement, “’Sydney Sweeney has great jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story.” They doubled down on body positivity and inclusivity, affirming that great jeans look good on everyone. Meanwhile, the White House’s Director of Communications, Steven Cheung, weighed in on X and called the uproar “cancel culture run amok,” reminding us that sometimes you have to shrug off the noise and keep moving forward.
And for those wondering if Sydney shies away from attention, think again. Earlier this summer she teamed with Dr. Squatch soap to sell bars infused with her literal bathwater. Fans questioned her at every turn, but she simply replied, “I pitched it. I think it’s more fun to see everyone else talk about it.”
Here is your takeaway: controversy can become your megaphone if you approach it with creativity and confidence. Now take that mindset and spot your own silver lining in every challenge. Keep pushing forward and stay inspired!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, American Eagle Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
