The uproar over Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad campaign has exploded on social media but it’s a different story elsewhere, according to a new survey — with only a small sliver of Americans saying they were offended.
Just 12% of Americans said they found the campaign offensive while an overwhelming majority said that they thought it was clever or didn’t have an opinion one way or another.
Nearly four of 10 respondents — 39% — said they viewed the “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” ad as clever, 12% called it offensive, 40% said it was neither and 8% were unsure, according to the Economist/YouGov poll.
The survey, which was conducted Aug. 9 to Aug. 11 among 1,635 adults, found that men were far more likely than women to describe the ad as clever (49% versus 31%), while women were more likely to see it as offensive (17% compared to 7% of men).
Political identity proved a sharper dividing line, with the campaign resonating most among Republicans and far less with Democrats.
Republicans responded most positively, with 57% calling the campaign clever compared to just 22% of Democrats, and older Americans tended to be more receptive than younger people.
The demographic breakdown in the poll underscored how reactions were shaped by both politics and age.
Among those 65 and older, 34% found the ad clever and 13% thought it offensive, while younger adults aged 18-29 were more split, with 45% calling it clever and 12% offended.
The gender gap was also notable, with women showing a higher tendency to view the ad negatively.
The results contrast sharply with the firestorm on social media that erupted after the ad’s release in late July.
The campaign featured the Euphoria star in a spot that touted her “great jeans” alongside a video in which she referenced genetics before tying it back to the clothing brand’s product.
Some online critics accused the ad of echoing eugenics and white supremacist ideas due to its wordplay, Sweeney’s appearance and the historical baggage tied to “good genes.”
Others claimed the spot was hypersexualized and outdated.
Most of the initial criticism came from a handful of accounts with few followers, and the conversation didn’t gain traction until right-leaning commentators and politicians began framing it as an example of progressive overreaction, according to reports.
That coverage helped fuel a second wave of attention, turning the ad into a culture-war flashpoint.
The backlash intensified when far-right groups, including the Proud Boys, and President Donald Trump praised the campaign and highlighted Sweeney’s reported Republican voter registration, describing the ad as “anti-woke.”
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in, using the controversy to attack Democrats during an appearance on the conservative “Ruthless” podcast.
“Did you learn nothing from the November 2024 election?” Vance said.
“The lesson they’ve apparently taken is, ‘We’re going to attack people as Nazis for thinking Sydney Sweeney is beautiful.’”
American Eagle responded with a statement saying: “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
The Post has sought comment from Sweeney and American Eagle.
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