"Surprised by the reaction." Sydney Sweeney responded to criticism of the controversial American Eagle jeans ad.

Sydney Sweeney has spoken out about the controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans ad. The 28-year-old actress, who had previously refrained from commenting on the matter, told People that she was genuinely surprised by the public backlash.

As a reminder, the campaign's slogan, "Sidney Sweeney has good jeans," sparked criticism. It outraged users due to the similarity between the words "jeans" and "genes" in English. Some even drew parallels with ideas popular in Nazi Germany.

In an interview with the publication, Sydney explained that she agreed to the shoot because she loves jeans and has long been a fan of the brand. She emphasized that she does not share the interpretations attributed to the advertisement and has always spoken out "against hatred and discord." "I do not support the views that some people have somehow associated with this advertisement. I have been assigned motives and labels that simply do not apply to me. Those who know me understand: I always try to unite people," the actress stated.

Sweeney also added that she hadn't wanted to comment on the incident until the very end, but eventually realized that her silence only fueled the resentment: "I'm used to not reacting to the press—either criticism or praise. But now I see that silence has only fueled the conflict. I want to believe that in the new year we'll think more about what unites us."

As for American Eagle, following the scandal, the brand refused to apologize but removed the original video and photos from social media. Despite the criticism, the campaign was profitable for the brand: shares rose more than 15% in a week. US President Donald Trump even publicly praised the actress, calling her "hot."

Sydney Sweeney rose to fame thanks to the series "Euphoria" and is now considered one of the most sought-after young actresses in Hollywood. She is also often called a "sex symbol" for her looks and flamboyant public appearances (usually with plunging necklines or in revealing dresses). Sweeney herself is opposed to the objectification of her body, although she often posts revealing photos on social media.

Фото: americaneagle, sydney_sweeney/Instagram**