Sydney Sweeney, known for her role in the acclaimed series ‘Euphoria,’ is making her way to the Toronto International Film Festival this September to premiere her new biographical sports drama, ‘Christy.’ This will mark her first public appearance since the controversy surrounding her American Eagle denim campaign. The actress has chosen to avoid any conversation about the recent backlash, instead focusing on her film role.
The American Eagle campaign, which was known for its clever wordplay on ‘genes’ and ‘jeans,’ sparked considerable controversy. Some critics accused the campaign of being tone-deaf, suggesting it could have eugenic implications, while others praised Sweeney for rejecting what they described as ‘woke’ advertising. Despite the backlash, Sweeney remains unapologetic about the campaign and has said that she will be there to support her film and the people involved in making it.
The campaign’s promo video, which was posted to the brand’s Instagram, showcased Sweeney walking towards an AE billboard featuring her and the tagline ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes.’ She crosses out ‘Genes’ and replaces it with ‘Jeans’ before walking away. In another ad, she lies down and fastens her jeans while saying, ‘Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color.’ The camera pans up to her blue eyes, and she adds, ‘My jeans are blue.’
The ad has since been removed from American Eagle’s social media pages, but the controversy continued. American Eagle released a statement on social media last month, stating that the campaign was about the jeans, her jeans, and her story. They emphasized that they would continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.
Sweeney’s decision to avoid discussing the campaign during her interview was evident when she spoke with Vanity Fair, where she shared details about ‘Christy,’ which she also co-produced. The film tells the story of Christy Martin, a trailblazing former professional boxer who rose to fame from West Virginia to becoming one of the most recognizable female boxers of the 1990s. The film also explores Martin’s troubled relationship with her boxing trainer and husband, Jim Martin, which involved codependency, drug abuse, financial scandal, and physical and psychological violence. Christy’s tale is also one of survival as she narrowly escaped with her life after Jim attempted to murder her in 2010.
In preparation for the role, Sweeney underwent a physical transformation, working with a nutritionist to gain more than 30 pounds. She also practiced boxing for several hours every day for three months in addition to weight training. She expressed her love for the experience, feeling strong and powerful during the process. Being able to lose herself to become a vessel for somebody else was her dream.
Despite her experience in combat sports, Sweeney faced challenges with mastering the boxing skills needed to accurately portray Christy. Her stances and technique were different from boxing, requiring adjustments. She also revealed that she and the other actors playing boxers were actually hitting each other in the fight scenes, sustaining concussions and bruises during filming. She believed that the fights needed to feel real, so the actors were punching each other full force.
Sweeney also mentioned that she spent time with Christy, though she was initially nervous when the former boxer visited the set to watch her fight scenes. However, Christy’s encouragement put her at ease. She described the experience as fun, with Christy cheering her on and yelling, ‘Hit him with the hook!’ as if she were watching a real fight. This interaction helped Sweeney feel more at ease and prepared for her role.