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Sydney Sweeney’s Republican Registration Surfaces as Trump Applauds Controversial Ad

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In the wake of a controversial American Eagle ad campaign that had social media chattering about “great genes” and denim-clad curves, actress Sydney Sweeney is now drawing attention for her political affiliation.

According to publicly available records reviewed by The Guardian, the “Euphoria” and “White Lotus” actor registered as a Republican voter in Florida on June 14, 2024. The date closely followed her purchase of a home in the Florida Keys and came just weeks after President Donald Trump was convicted in New York for falsifying business records, but before his eventual return to the White House in November.

The news, which began circulating widely on Saturday across social media platforms, added fresh fuel to the discourse surrounding Sweeney’s current spotlight moment—a moment already stoked by American Eagle’s denim campaign, which plays off a double entendre: “Sydney Sweeney has great genes.” In one video, “genes” is scratched out and cheekily replaced with “jeans.” In another, the blue-eyed star delivers lines about inherited traits and eye color, only to land the punchline: “My jeans are blue.”

Depending on who you ask, the campaign is either clever branding or clueless provocation. One TikTok video, which racked up hundreds of thousands of likes, accused the ads of channeling eugenics-era aesthetics, especially troubling in a political climate where the reinstated Trump administration is working to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs while escalating crackdowns on immigration.

“It’s literally giving… Nazi propaganda,” the video claimed, underscoring a growing discomfort among progressive audiences.

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Dr. Brett Staniland, a model and sustainable fashion advocate, told Newsweek that, “This specific campaign has sparked backlash for multiple reasons.”

“Firstly, the terminology and its inferences suggest a connection to Sydney Sweeney’s appearance being perfect, denoting her blonde hair, blue eyes and white skin, as well as her body. The second part of it is that it’s sexually charged. In one shot, the lens travels down her body for her to say, ‘Hey, eye’s up here,’ a clear reference to something women have experienced for years at the hands of objectifying men. Trivializing this sentiment to sell jeans has obviously not been well received.”

Still, others saw the outrage as overblown. Some users on X dismissed the backlash as exaggerated, noting that a woman modeling jeans, even with a tongue-in-cheek nod to genetics, shouldn’t cause this level of uproar. One post read, “No one was trying to cancel Sydney Sweeney. And no one cares if she’s Republican or not.”

Sweeney herself has yet to publicly comment on the revelation of her Republican registration. But this isn’t her first political brushfire. In 2022, the 27-year-old actor was criticized after photos emerged from her mother’s birthday party, where guests were spotted wearing red hats reminiscent of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” merch. At the time, Sweeney addressed the controversy on social media, stating, “An innocent celebration … has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention.”

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Now, amid the new political scrutiny, Sweeney has become a surprising cause célèbre for conservatives. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung denounced the backlash to her ad as “cancel culture run amok.” At the same time, Trump himself, when told about Sweeney’s party affiliation as he boarded Air Force One, reportedly responded with a grin.

“Ohhhhh, now I love her ad. Is that right? It’s Sydney Sweeney? You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans. That’s what I wouldn’t have known, but I’m glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.”

He later posted on Truth Social, initially misspelling Sweeney’s first name as “Sidney” before deleting and reposting.

“Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Go get ’em Sydney…Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be.”

Some conservatives have positioned the American Eagle campaign as a win against “woke” marketing, contrasting it with last year’s infamous Bud Light fiasco. That 2023 promotion, which featured trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, sparked a widespread conservative boycott.

The fallout was swift. Bud Light sales plummeted, the brand lost its top spot in the U.S. beer market, and its parent company, Anheuser-Busch, distanced itself from the campaign, blaming an outside agency for the misstep.

American Eagle, on the other hand, appears to be standing by Sweeney—and profiting. The brand’s stock has reportedly seen a boost following the ad’s release. “‘ Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans,” the company said in a statement Friday. “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.”

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American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney Campaign Sparks Backlash Over “Great Genes” Wordplay

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A new fall advertising campaign from American Eagle starring actress Sydney Sweeney has ignited a fiery wave of online criticism, with accusations that the brand is subtly promoting white supremacist ideas under the guise of wordplay.

The campaign’s slogan, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” is a cheeky twist on “great genes,” nodding to both denim and DNA. In a widely circulated Instagram video from the brand, Sweeney stands in front of a poster emblazoned with the phrase “Sydney Sweeney has great genes.” As the video progresses, the word “genes” is scribbled out and replaced with “jeans.” The clip has already racked up over a million views on the platform.

In another promotional video, Sweeney leans into the pun further, narrating, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color.” The camera then pans up to her face as she finishes the line. “My jeans are blue.”

That line, paired with Sweeney’s blue eyes, blonde hair, and all-American image,  immediately drew the ire of some viewers on platforms like TikTok, X, and Threads. Critics accused the brand of pushing a eugenicist aesthetic and glorifying white genetic traits, with terms like “Nazi propaganda” and “white supremacy” appearing in many of the most viral commentary posts.

While the ad never references race, Hillary Herskowitz, CEO and Founder of H2 Marketing Group, told TODAY.com there is “no denying” that the phrase “carries historical baggage.”

“When you pair that kind of wordplay with a blond, blue-eyed actress, it can unintentionally reinforce narrow, Eurocentric beauty standards.”

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Neither American Eagle nor Sydney Sweeney has publicly addressed the backlash as of Tuesday morning. A representative for Sweeney declined to comment, and the retailer has not responded to media inquiries.

The campaign, announced last week, introduces a limited-edition fall collection co-designed with Sweeney, featuring a denim jacket and “The Sydney Jean,” which showcases a butterfly motif.

According to American Eagle, proceeds from the sales will go to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit that provides 24/7 mental health support. The butterfly symbol was reportedly chosen to raise awareness for domestic violence, a detail that has largely been overshadowed by the controversy.

“In partnership with the brand, Sweeney’s long-time stylist Molly Dickson dresses her in AE denim essentials, reimagined to create the perfect blend of relatability and undeniable influence. The curated denim wardrobe feels distinctly Sydney – effortless, personal and true to how she wears AE,” American Eagle wrote in a press release.

“Sweeney’s girl-next-door charm and main character energy — paired with her ability to not take herself too seriously — is the hallmark of this bold, playful campaign.”.

While some have condemned the campaign’s messaging as racially insensitive and regressive, others have rushed to defend it or even celebrate it. Several conservative commentators have praised the ad as a “refreshing” departure from the wave of inclusive and diverse marketing campaigns that have come to define major brands in recent years.

The backlash to the backlash has turned the campaign into something of a cultural litmus test, with some critics being labeled as overly sensitive or “chronically online.” Herskowitz believes the campaign was meant to provoke a reaction.

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“[It was] intentional. That line — ‘good jeans’ — is too perfectly constructed not to be. It was designed to be cheeky, playful and buzzworthy. The creative team knew exactly what they were doing.”

This ideological divide over “wokeness” reflects a broader shift in the cultural landscape. In the post-2020 marketing world, where brands have often leaned into progressive values and inclusivity, there is a growing appetite on the right for media that centers white, traditionally attractive figures without explanation or apology.

The popularity of aesthetics like “old money,” the romanticization of the tradwife lifestyle, and a backlash to body positivity all reflect this shift, and Sweeney’s campaign appears to be caught in the crossfire.

The campaign had an immediate impact on American Eagle’s stock, which briefly rose following the announcement of the collaboration. However, in the days since, the company has posted more than a dozen Sweeney-focused pieces of content on social media, followed on Sunday by a noticeable shift.

In its latest Instagram post, American Eagle showcased a new model wearing a denim-on-denim look. Unlike the earlier clips, Sweeney was nowhere to be seen. The caption read: “Denim on denim on denim… on denim. AE has great jeans.”

Some users interpreted the post, which featured a model who appeared to be a person of color, as a subtle attempt at “damage control,” a phrase repeated throughout the comments. “Throwing in a little color for some razzle dazzle,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Does she have great jeans, or is it only your blue-eyed customers?”

“Are we selling jeans to women or selling women in jeans to men?” another commenter wrote, referencing how the ad sexualized Sweeny. Earlier this year, Sweeny made headlines for selling a men’s soap infused with her own bathwater.

Whether this is a fleeting controversy or a lasting brand moment remains to be seen. What’s clear is that a pun intended to sell jeans has sparked a much deeper conversation.

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Forever 21 Files for Bankruptcy Again as Shein, Temu, and Amazon Dominate Fast Fashion

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Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in six years on Sunday, announcing plans to shutter its U.S. operations amid declining foot traffic in shopping malls and increasing competition from fast-fashion e-commerce giants such as Amazon, Temu, and Shein.

The retail chain’s U.S. operating arm has started liquidation sales across more than 350 locations and plans to cease operations entirely unless a suitable buyer emerges, according to recent court filings.

Forever 21 has actively searched for buyers over several months, reaching out to over 200 potential parties, with approximately 30 expressing serious interest by signing confidentiality agreements. However, none of these discussions yielded a viable agreement, leaving the retailer poised for liquidation.

In a statement, the company’s co-chief restructuring officer, Stephen Coulombe, attributed Forever 21’s latest financial struggles to heightened competition driven by online retailers Shein and Temu. Both companies exploit the “de minimis exemption,” a trade loophole allowing goods priced under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free, significantly impacting domestic retailers like Forever 21, which must bear import duties.

“Certain non-U.S. online retailers that compete with the debtors, such as Temu and Shein, have taken advantage of this exemption and, therefore, have been able to pass significant savings onto consumers. Consequently, retailers that must pay duties and tariffs to purchase product for their stores and warehouses in the United States, such as the company, have been undercut.”

Coulombe added, “Despite widespread calls from U.S. companies and industry groups for the U.S. government to create a level playing field for U.S. retailers by closing the exemption, U.S. laws and policies have not solved the problem.”

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Past attempts to counteract Shein’s dominance included a partnership initiated by Sparc Group, Forever 21’s operating company owner, in 2023. As part of the joint venture, Shein acquired about a third of Forever 21′s Sparc Group. Sparc also took a minority stake in Shein. The partnership allowed Shein to sell Forever 21 products on its site. It also allowed customers to return Shein-bought items in several hundred physical Forever 21 locations across the United States. However, the effort was insufficient to reverse losses or influence trade policy reform.

“The ability for non-U.S. retailers to sell their products at drastically lower prices to U.S. consumers has significantly impacted the Company’s ability to retain its traditional core customer base.”

While Forever 21’s U.S. operations face liquidation, the brand, owned by Authentic Brands Group, is expected to survive internationally. According to a recent CNBC report, the brand name and other intellectual property controlled are not for sale, and its international stores and website are anticipated to continue running.

Jarrod Weber, global lifestyle president at Authentic Brands Group, has expressed optimism about attracting new partners and operators interested in revitalizing the brand within the U.S. market, stating, “We are receiving lots of interest from strong brand operators and digital experts who share our vision and are ready to take the brand to the next level.”

“Our U.S. licensee’s decision to restructure its operations does not impact Forever 21′s intellectual property or its international business. It presents an opportunity to accelerate the modernization of the brand’s distribution model, setting it up to compete and lead in fast fashion for decades to come. We’re building a direct creation-to-shelf model that moves faster.”

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After its initial bankruptcy filing in 2019, Forever 21 returned to profitability, reporting revenues of $2 billion and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $165 million in fiscal 2021, under new ownership by Authentic Brands Group and major landlords Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners.

Yet the company’s financial performance steadily deteriorated amidst rising inflation, supply chain issues, and shifting consumer preferences, accumulating over $400 million in losses in the past three fiscal years alone. Projected losses for fiscal 2025 stand at an additional $180 million.

Forever 21’s struggles also prompted drastic cost-cutting measures, including requests for rent reductions from landlords of up to 50%. Although these efforts secured around $50 million in savings, the amount was insufficient to offset mounting losses. Currently, the company carries debts totaling $1.58 billion, along with over $100 million owed to clothing suppliers, primarily in China and Korea.

The company, which was founded in 1984, was once a dominant force in fast fashion, employing over 43,000 people and generating annual revenues exceeding $4 billion at its peak. Its ongoing challenges highlight the rapidly changing dynamics within the retail and fashion industries.

Part of the problem, according to GlobalData managing director Neil Saunders, is that Forever 21 stores are too large for their present needs and are located in malls where there are not enough shoppers.

“Forever 21 was always a retailer living on borrowed time. Over recent years, it has been hit with dual headwinds from a weak apparel market and stiff competition from cheap Chinese marketplaces. Both things have eroded its standing and depleted its market share.”

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Kim Kardashian Outraged Over Balenciaga Ads Featuring Children Holding Bondage Bears

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Kim Kardashian put pressure on fashion brand Balenciaga to take action over their latest controversial ad campaign, which featured children holding teddy bear handbags dressed in what appeared to be bondage gear.

Another campaign for a black and white purse that retails at $3,000 sparked controversy when it was revealed that the photographs purporting to be of a “business environment” included genuine legal documents from a court case about child pornography scattered on a desk.

After receiving tremendous backlash, the high-end fashion label swiftly deleted the offending marketing photos and issued an apology on Instagram. Many people felt it fell short of taking proper accountability. As a well-known face of the brand, Kardashian received criticism for not responding to the controversy as soon as it broke. The brand continued to trend on Twitter for days amid calls for celebrities such as Kardashian, Bella Hadid, and Nicole Kidman to sever ties with the company. On Sunday, Kardashian issued a statement on Twitter addressing the campaigns.

“I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened.”

She said she was “shaken by the disturbing images,” as a mother of four. Kardashian also added that “any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society—period.”

Kardashian acknowledged that the brand removed the campaigns and apologized and believes “they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again.”

Talking about her future with the company, she said that she was currently re-evaluating her relationship with Balenciaga and will take into account “their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.”  

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After Kardashian’s tweets, Balenciaga reiterated its apology in an Instagram post but partially blamed external vendors for controversial elements of the campaign.

“The second, separate campaign for Spring 2023, which was meant to replicate a business office environment, included a photo with a page in the background from a Supreme Court ruling ‘United States v. Williams’ 2008 which confirms as illegal and not protected by freedom of speech the promotion of child pornography. All the items included in this shooting were provided by third parties that confirmed in writing that these props were fake office documents. They turned out to be real legal papers most likely coming from the filming of a television drama. The inclusion of these unapproved documents was the result of reckless negligence for which Balenciaga has filed a complaint. We take full accountability for our lack of oversight and control of the documents in the background and we could have done things differently.”

A few days prior, Balenciaga filed a lawsuit against North Six and Nicholas des Jardins, the production company and set designer of the Spring 2023 campaign. Balenciaga’s suit stated that the production company’s “inexplicable acts and omissions [were] malevolent or, at the very least, extraordinarily reckless.” They were also done without the brand’s knowledge. Balenciaga says it will seek $25 million in damages or more for the “false association” between Balenciaga and the “repulsive and deeply disturbing subject of the court decision.”

As for the first campaign, the brand said Balenciaga “made the wrong choice” in featuring children.

“The first campaign, the Gift Collection campaign, featured children with plush bear bags dressed in what some have labeled BDSM-inspired outfits. Our Plush Bear bags and the Gift Collection should not have been featured with children. This was a wrong choice by Balenciaga, combined with our failure in assessing and validating images. The responsibility for this lies with Balenciaga alone.”

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The fashion house also listed actions it would take due to what it called “a series of grievous errors.”

“While internal and external investigations are ongoing, we are taking the following actions:

– We are closely revising our organization and collective ways of working

– We are reinforcing the structures around our creative processes and validation steps. We want to ensure that new controls mark a pivot and will prevent this from happening again.

– We are laying the groundwork with organizations who specialize in child protection and aims at ending child abuse and exploitation.”

The agent for North Six and Nicholas des Jardins, Gabriela Moussaieff, told the Washington Post that his client was “being used as a scapegoat,” and that “everyone from Balenciaga was on the shoot and was present on every shot and worked on the edit of every image in post production.” 

Gabriele Galimberti, the photographer who shot the brand’s campaign, took to Instagram to address the “hundreds of hate mails and messages” he received as a result of the photos he took.

“I am not in a position to comment Balenciaga’s choices, but I must stress that I was not entitled in whatsoever manner to neither chose the products, nor the models, nor the combination of the same. As a photographer, I was only and solely requested to lit the given scene, and take the shots according to my signature style. As usual for a commercial shooting, the direction of the campaign and the choice of the objects displayed are not in the hands of the photographer.”

Galimberti went on to say that he suspects that “any person prone to pedophilia searches on the web and has unfortunately a too easy access to images completely different than mine, absolutely explicit in their awful content.”

“Accusations like these are addressed against wrong targets, and distract from the real problem, and criminals.”

In response to the photo containing the Supreme Court case papers, Galimberti said it was taken on another set by other people and “was falsely associated” with his photos.

The brand has been at the center of several controversies, with the latest surrounding rapper Ye, who was formerly known as Kanye West. Last month Ye, who has collaborated with the brand throughout the years, made antisemitic remarks, causing the brand to cut ties with the musician. 

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Famous Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz Dies At 59 From Covid-19

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Alber Elbaz was known for dressing some of the most high profile celebrities in the industry including Michelle Obama, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Jessica Parker. It was announced this week that Elbaz unfortunately passed away at the age of 59 due to the Covid-19 virus. 

Elbaz began drawing dresses and designs at seven-years-old, quickly discovering his passion for creativity and beauty. He worked with Guy Laroche and Yves Saint Laurent before he became the creative director of Lanvin in 2001. It was thought that under Elbaz’s leadership he was not only able to transform the Lanvin brand, but the overall fashion industry’s relationship with Hollywood stars. 

He famously discussed how “The red carpet has gone from elitist to popular. Everyone has access to it, even if only on the internet or through magazines. Since fashion is an integral part of celebrities’ lives, it’s become a kind of permanent red carpet despite itself.”

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Back in 2014 Elbaz shocked the entire industry when he decided to leave Lanvin. Besides having smaller collaborations with brands like Converse and Lancome, he for the most part was absent from the fashion industry for five years. Eventually he was interviewed by wallpaper Magazine about his hiatus in which he explained:

“I’ve had time to observe and live a life not as a fashion designer, but just as a human being.” 

After that, he announced the launch of his new label, AZ Factory, in January of this year. The label is size-inclusive and made “figure flattering dresses and trainers.” Size inclusivity has been an issue in the fashion industry since the dawn of its creation, and has always been something Elbaz fought for. 

“I am overweight, so I am very aware of what to show and what not to show and I am sure there is a huge link with being an overweight designer and the work I do.” 

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AZ Factory was financially backed by Richemont, in a statement Richemont’s chairman, Johann Rupert, said: “His inclusive vision of fashion made women feel beautiful and comfortable by blending traditional craftsmanship with technology – highly innovative projects which sought to redefine the industry.”

Many members of the fashion community have been mourning the loss of Elbaz online this week with touching and personal tributes to being dressed and styled by the icon. 

Kim Kardashian wrote: “Alber dressed me for my first Vogue cover and gifted me with the cover dress to hold on to that memory forever.” Sarah Jessica Parker posted a photo of the keepsakes she received from the designer, saying: “He always left little notes inside parcels … [he was] loved and brought joy to every occasion.”

Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri wrote that he was the “first person who made me feel at home in the fashion industry.”