Why Sydney Sweeney’s Movie Flopped Despite Online MAGA Controversy Over Her Jeans

A couple of weeks back, American Eagle unveiled a new ad campaign for its blue jeans, starring actress Sydney Sweeney. In one ad, she awkwardly delved into genetics, mentioning how traits like hair color and personality are passed down from parents. But mostly, the buzz was about how great she looked in the denim.

Soon after the ads aired, the internet lit up. One TikToker compared the campaign to “Nazi propaganda,” leading NPR to call it the “ad campaign that launched a thousand critiques.” CNN pondered what the country learned from the whole situation, while Vox discussed the legacy of the “blonde bombshell.” Public figures, including Dr. Phil and Lizzo, chimed in, and even the president gave a nod to Sweeney, albeit with a typo in his tweet.

Amidst all this, high-profile MAGA figures like J.D. Vance and Ted Cruz seized the moment to rally their base, trying to promote Sweeney as a cultural icon. A timeline from Rolling Stone revealed how some conservatives positioned themselves around the controversy.

Interestingly, you’d think this newfound attention would translate into big box office numbers for Sweeney’s latest film, Americana. Surprisingly, it only grossed around $500,000 during its opening weekend, despite having been in the spotlight. Critics had mixed reviews, with some describing it as a ’90s-style ensemble crime film that explored American myths.

The real issue for Americana might not be Sweeney’s ads, but rather a lack of awareness. Many people hadn’t even heard of the film before it premiered. In a world where social media can amplify voices, sometimes the buzz doesn’t mean much.

While the internet often catalyzes real-world events, it seems the Great Jeans War of 2025 didn’t take off. A recent poll from The Economist/YouGov showed only 12 percent of Americans found the ad offensive. After years of heightened online discourse, it appears that many are simply tired of moral panics.

In a world filled with constant online chatter, perhaps it’s time we remember that not everything sticks. Each new controversy may just be another moment in the vast landscape of pop culture, quickly forgotten as we move on to the next viral topic.

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Sydney Sweeney,Twitter,X