Danica Patrick has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad campaign.
The former race car driver, 43, took to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, July 30, posing the question: “Can anyone tell me what’s wrong with the new AE ads?! Very confused.”
Patrick shared a video from content creator Kaylor Betts, who addressed the American Eagle outrage.
“We have to boycott American Eagle,” Betts said. “If you haven’t heard of this yet, brace yourself. This is a trigger warning. You’re not going to believe it. They had Sydney Sweeney in one of their ads. And if you don’t know Sydney, she’s a white girl.”
Gabby Windey Calls Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Jeans Ad ‘Terrifying’
Patrick called the video “hilarious.”
Sweeney, 27, stars in the polarizing American Eagle ad campaign, which debuted on July 23.
In one of the campaign’s videos, the camera zooms in on the chest of the Euphoria star as she discusses her “body’s composition.”
“Hey, eyes up here,” Sweeney says directly into the lens.
Some viewers criticized the ad for objectifying Sweeney, with one person writing, “It’s embarrassing to see women dumb down and act like this. Truly a hard watch.”
The campaign, centered around the slogan “Sydney Sweeney Has Good Jeans,” has also been called out for equating the actress’ blonde hair and blue eyes to the preferred form of genetics.
“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color,” Sweeney says in one video, before the camera shows her eyes. “My jeans are blue.”
“That’s white supremacy propaganda. There’s no doubt,” one person wrote via TikTok.
Before the controversy erupted, American Eagle explained how Sweeney had a major role in crafting the ad campaign’s tone.
Sydney Sweeney Is Sexy and Shirtless for New American Eagle Campaign
“During a Zoom call with Sydney, we asked the question, ‘How far do you want to push it?’ Without hesitation, she smirked and said, ‘Let’s push it, I’m game,’” Ashley Schapiro, the brand’s vice president of marketing, media, performance and engagement, wrote in a LinkedIn post. “Our response? ‘Challenge Accepted.’”
According to Schapiro, Sweeney’s “sentiment guided every frame, every stitch and every unexpected twist” of the campaign.
In a statement prior to the campaign’s launch, Sweeney gushed about the partnership.
“Their commitment to creating pieces that make you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin is something that resonates with me,” Sweeney said. “It’s rare to find a brand that grows with you, the way American Eagle has for generations. They have literally been there with me through every version of myself.”
