Sydney Sweeney makes red carpet return amid ad backlash
Held at Desert 5 Spot, the screening brought together several cast members, including Simon Rex and singer Halsey, both of whom posed alongside Sweeney on the red carpet. The film, set in a small South Dakota town, follows the dangerous fallout after a prized Native American ghost shirt ends up on the black market. The story spirals into a high-stakes chase involving a quirky diner waitress, a military veteran, and a corrupt antiquities dealer, with an Indigenous leader and his crew entering the fray to reclaim the stolen artifact.
While Americana focuses on cultural preservation and conflict, much of the attention surrounding Sweeney's appearance was off-screen. Her red-carpet return comes just days after the fashion world erupted over her American Eagle campaign. The tagline, 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans', was widely interpreted as a provocative double entendre implying "genes", and drew criticism for echoing problematic themes of genetic superiority and for leaning into outdated, hyper-sexualised marketing. Critics compared it to Brooke Shields' infamous 1980 Calvin Klein ad, with many slamming it as tone-deaf and catering to the male gaze.
American Eagle defended the campaign on August 1, stating it was always intended to focus on the jeans, not genetics. Sweeney herself has not publicly addressed the controversy. Still, her confident appearance at the Americana event signalled a return to form, perhaps an attempt to shift focus back to her work amid the noise.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Epic Games CEO criticises report on Disney mode delays in Fortnite as 'BS'
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has strongly denied recent claims in The Wall Street Journal that Disney has delayed the development of Fortnite's upcoming Disney mode due to slow decision-making by the entertainment giant. The WSJ report suggested internal frustration within Epic over the pace of Disney sign-offs, stating the new mode would not launch until 'fall 2026 at the earliest.' Executives were said to be unhappy with delays caused by multiple layers of approval. Responding on social media, Sweeney labelled the anonymous remark as 'BS.' He wrote: 'The speed of Disney and Epic collaborations like Darth Vader has been awesome and is around 10x the ordinary speed of media company dealings in this business. We even provided a statement to the writer… but they chose not to print it.' The Disney collaboration was first revealed in February 2024. Details remain limited, although concept art has hinted at a virtual Disneyland-style environment featuring themed hubs. The specific gameplay elements of this mode remain undisclosed. The WSJ noted that Josh D'Amaro, head of Disney Parks and Resorts, is overseeing the project and has reportedly spent time with Sweeney during development. The article also raised concerns over legal ownership of fan-created content involving Disney characters, such as in-game dances. Epic's partnership with Disney has already resulted in extensive Fortnite content, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and classic animation skins. One recent initiative tested an AI-powered Darth Vader character who could interact via generative speech, engaging with over 10 million players despite early moderation issues. Fortnite is entering its next season, featuring a mutated biome and guest appearances from Halo characters.
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Sydney Sweeney heckled over ‘racist' American Eagle ad at film premiere
Actress Sydney Sweeney faced public protest at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film Americana, as controversy surrounding her recent American Eagle ad campaign continues to generate backlash. The incident occurred on Sunday night at Desert 5 Spot in Hollywood. Sweeney, best known for her role in Euphoria, arrived on the red carpet wearing a pale yellow gown. As she exited her SUV and was escorted toward the venue, a protester off-camera shouted, 'Stop the ad, that is being racist!' The heckling was captured on video and widely circulated online shortly after the event. TMZ shares video of Sydney Sweeney being 'heckled' over the American Eagle genes/jeans ad at the premiere for her film 'Americana.' — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 4, 2025 The protest references Sweeney's American Eagle campaign, which has been criticized by some social media users — particularly on TikTok — for allegedly promoting racially insensitive messaging. The ad featured the tagline 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' which critics claimed was a thinly veiled play on 'genes,' sparking concerns about implied genetic superiority. Neither Sweeney nor her team has publicly addressed the accusation, and she did not acknowledge the heckler at the premiere. American Eagle, however, released a statement defending the campaign, stating it was about denim and Sweeney's personal story, and rejected the claims as false and defamatory. Despite the outburst, Sweeney continued posing with co-stars Simon Rex and Halsey on the red carpet. The rest of the premiere proceeded without incident. The episode highlights the growing tension between celebrity endorsements and public scrutiny, particularly around sensitive cultural issues.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Donald Trump drags in Taylor Swift while praising Sydney Sweeney's controversial American Eagle ad
President Donald Trump reignited his public criticism of Taylor Swift in a recent post on Truth Social, while expressing strong support for actress Sydney Sweeney and her controversial American Eagle ad campaign. The remarks, made on Monday (Aug. 4), included a claim that Swift is 'no longer hot' and a broader commentary on political affiliations and cultural appeal. Trump praised Sweeney, describing her American Eagle advertisement as the 'hottest ad out there,' and attributing the campaign's success to her status as a registered Republican. 'Go get 'em, Sydney!' he wrote, referencing reports that Sweeney registered as a Republican in 2024. The ad has stirred controversy due to its messaging, with critics drawing comparisons between Sweeney's statement about having 'great genes' and past fascist propaganda. President Trump speaks on Sydney Sweeney being a registered Republican 'Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican? Now I love her ad. If she is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic' — FearBuck (@FearedBuck) August 4, 2025 Despite the backlash, Trump celebrated the campaign's performance, claiming American Eagle jeans are 'flying off the shelves.' The fashion brand responded to criticism by emphasizing that the campaign is focused solely on the jeans, not political ideology. 'Great jeans look good on everyone,' American Eagle stated on Instagram. In contrast, Trump targeted Swift, labeling her a 'woke singer' and repeating his earlier claims that her popularity has declined since he publicly expressed dislike for her. He reiterated past assertions that she was 'booed out of the Super Bowl,' a claim contradicted by eyewitness accounts, which indicate Swift attended the entire game and was cheered by fans. Trump has long criticized Swift, particularly following her political endorsements of Democratic candidates such as Phil Bredesen in 2018 and Kamala Harris in 2024. In May, Trump questioned whether Swift's popularity had declined since he said he 'hated' her, again suggesting that being 'woke' is detrimental to cultural relevance.
