Halsey has publicly defended Sydney Sweeney following a backlash against the actress’s recent advertising campaign with American Eagle. The controversy erupted after Sweeney appeared in a promotional video for the brand, which some critics claimed perpetuated problematic notions regarding race and beauty standards in America.
In a post on her Instagram Story, the 30-year-old singer emphasized the importance of cinema, drawing attention to her role in the film Americana, directed by Tony Tost. Halsey wrote, “If you love cinema, then you should know that cinema comes first. This is cinema.” While her remarks did not specifically mention Sweeney, many interpreted them as support for her co-star in the film.
The advertising campaign featuring Sweeney has faced criticism for its messaging. In the video, the actress highlights how “genes that are passed from parent to offspring often determine traits such as hair colour, personality and even eye colour.” She concludes with the line, “My jeans are blue,” which some interpreted as a problematic play on words that conflates “jeans” and “genes.” Critics accused American Eagle of promoting eugenics through this messaging.
In response to the backlash, Halsey acknowledged the significance of language in today’s climate. She stated, “I do agree that our words are important in this climate. I don’t, however, think that it’s fair for the news cycle to predatorily rip a hardworking director and his hardworking crew for this film that is completely separate from and unrelated to a (pretty dumb) advertising take.” Her comments suggest a desire to separate the artistic endeavors of Tost and the film from the missteps of the advertising campaign.
The American Eagle campaign has become a focal point in discussions about representation and the messaging surrounding beauty standards. The brand later issued a statement defending the campaign, asserting, “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the ad, Americana has not fared well at the box office since its release, with Tost commenting that the film has been “gobbled up by the zeitgeist.” He expressed hope that, over time, it would be appreciated for its artistic merit. On social media platform X, Tost noted, “One of the great things about movies is that they outlive the zeitgeist into which they were released. As someone whose first film sorta got gobbled up by the zeitgeist, I’ll be curious to see how it’ll stand up after this moment is over. Hopefully fairly well!”
As the conversation continues, both Halsey and Sweeney remain at the center of a debate that touches on the intersection of art, advertising, and societal values. The outcome of both the film and the advertising campaign will likely influence future discussions around representation and messaging in media.
