Sophomore Ela Aba is sitting in her room, scrolling on her phone when she comes across a video calling out actress Sydney Sweeney for her American Eagle ad.

In July, American Eagle released a series of advertisements featuring Sweeney modeling the company’s jeans.  The most controversial ad was later removed. In it, Sweeney lies on the floor buttoning up her jeans while a voiceover says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring” ending with, “My genes are blue.”

Some of her other American Eagle ads drew similar criticism, including one shot hovering over her bottom as she says the jeans “make your butt look fantastic,” and another focusing on her chest while she says, “Hey! Eyes up here!”

These ads were met with criticism for two main reasons, Aba said.

 “Saying she has great genes and she is white and blonde. It sounded like she was promoting eugenics,” Aba said.

Junior Hannah Niebuhr said she thought these ads crossed a line.

“The ad is definitely over sexualized. It was really weird, and it was definitely not empowering,” Niebuhr said.

Aba also said while Sweeney has the freedom to make her own choices, she should consider her influence on young audiences.

“Sydney Sweeney is an adult, but she doesn’t need to sexualize herself in a jean ad where a lot of young girls shop,” Aba said.

Sweeney has yet to comment specifically on the American Eagle ads, but in an Aug. 20 Wall Street Journal interview, she discussed the controversy surrounding her limited-edition Dr. Squatch soap, made from her bathwater.

“It was mainly girls making comments about it, which I thought was really interesting,” Sweeney said, “They all loved the idea of Jacob Elordi’s bathwater”, referring to her Euphoria co-star Jacob Elordi, who released a bathwater candle in early 2024. 

But Aba said Sweeney should not use Elordi’s actions as justification. 

“I don’t think it was OK that he did it either,” Aba said.“It’s kind of gross either way. It’s promoting fetish content online, which is something that no one needs regardless of age and maturity.” 

Former Gender Studies and U.S. history teacher Jaclyn Edwards said sexualization in advertising has long been an issue, pointing to 19th-century fashion designed to accentuate women’s bodies.

“Its pretty universal and generational that people are going to be influenced by what they see,” Edwards said.

But Edwards said the Sweeny’s American Eagle campaign is especially harmful in today’s world of rapid information and short attention spans.

“I think it’s harmful only because of the way in which we receive information today, which is quick and instantaneous,” Edwards said.“If people are willing to take the time to do the follow up OK.”

Edwards added that if consumers aren’t willing to dig a little deeper and do more research, ads can be more harmful than just a business decision. 

Niebuhr also said the American Eagle ads can negatively affect already self-conscious teenagers. 

“They definitely affect teenagers who are struggling already,” Niebuhr said. “With body images, especially, you have to be more careful.” 

Edwards said that while media sexualization has always existed, young women, especially, should continue to challenge expectations and assert their own identities.

“The sexualization of women has always been there,” Edwards said.  “The question is whether women want to be more than just objects of desire. I’d like to think that women are interested in doing some self-discovery and get to know more about themselves.”