British actress Aimee Lou Wood has taken to social media to voice her opinion on the recent backlash surrounding fellow The White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney and her involvement in a controversial American Eagle campaign.
The ad, which aired earlier this year, quickly sparked outrage due to its slogan "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," and was accused of perpetuating eugenicist undertones.
Misan Harriman's Strong Critique
The controversy reignited this week when celebrated British photographer Misan Harriman shared a clip from a new interview with Sweeney in GQ, where the 28-year-old actress downplayed the negative reaction to the ad.
In the interview, Sweeney seemed unfazed by the backlash, explaining that she simply loves jeans and wears them daily, adding that the reaction to the ad had come as a surprise to her.
Misan, known for his powerful activism and his high-profile portraits of figures like Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Rihanna, was quick to condemn Sweeney's response.
Posting the interview clip on Instagram, Misan criticized her for not acknowledging the harm the campaign had caused.
"Presuming that you are not a white supremacist, at least say how horrified you were by how this campaign was amplified and celebrated by unrepentant racists who believe in eugenics," he wrote.
"At least recognize the harm your jeans campaign has caused black folk. The undertone of the campaign is that your genetics are superior to others - the play on words is clear as day and racists LOVED it!"
Misan's pointed commentary resonated with many, particularly in the context of the campaign's divisive impact, and he made it clear that even if Sweeney was unaware of the implications at the time, she should understand the weight of it now.
Aimee Lou Wood Weighs In
Among those responding to Misan's post was Aimee Lou Wood, who starred alongside Sydney in The White Lotus. Aimee, known for her roles in Sex Education and The White Lotus, shared a single, telling reaction - a green vomiting-face emoji.
Her comment went viral, receiving over a thousand likes in less than an hour, with many fans voicing their support for her stance.
"You’re a real one, Aimee Lou Wood!" one follower wrote, while another added: "Clock it sis!"
Her succinct response quickly became a hot topic on social media, with users applauding her for standing up and sharing her opinion in the face of controversy.
The American Eagle Campaign and Its Backlash
The controversy surrounding the American Eagle ad began in July, when the brand released its autumn campaign featuring Sweeney fronting a short film.
The ad played on the words "genes" and "jeans," with Sweeney saying: "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality, and even eye colour."
She then smiled and added: "My jeans are blue."
To many critics, the ad seemed to evoke eugenicist rhetoric about "genetic superiority," particularly with the use of terms like "genes" and the visual emphasis on Sweeney's blue eyes and blonde hair.
Critics quickly called the ad out as a potential "racialized dog whistle" to right-wing and white-nationalist groups. Some also raised concerns about the over-sexualization of the actress, drawing comparisons to the infamous 1980 Calvin Klein ad featuring Brooke Shields.
As backlash mounted, some TikTok users labeled the ad as "Nazi propaganda," further fueling the controversy.
"Who approved this campaign?" one user asked, while another commented: "This is what happens when you have no people of colour in the room. Particularly in a time like this.
"This ad campaign got so caught up in this 'clever' play on words and this stunt, the people in the room missed what was so blatantly obvious to anyone not white."
In August, American Eagle defended the ad, insisting that the focus was always on "the jeans," and that the campaign was a celebration of Sweeney's personal story.
However, the damage was done, and the ad continued to generate significant debate, especially after President Donald Trump publicly praised it, further politicizing the situation.