Sydney Sweeney Pivots to Boxing Biopic Amidst Ad Controversy
Sydney Sweeney isn't dwelling on the recent controversy surrounding her American Eagle advertising campaign.
“My purpose there is to promote my film and acknowledge everyone who contributed to its creation, not to discuss denim,” Sweeney, 27, explained to Vanity Fair in an article published Thursday, September 4, just before the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Christy. “The film centers on Christy, and that will be my focus for discussion.”
Sweeney takes on the role of Christy Martin, the namesake character in the upcoming biographical film detailing the life of the 1990s boxer.
Prior to the film's debut, Sweeney became the official representative for American Eagle's denim line. An August promotional effort included the ambiguous slogan, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes,” which a significant number of followers interpreted as an endorsement of eugenics. (Eugenics is a theory concerning the enhancement of human genetic qualities, widely rejected as baseless.)
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“Sydney believes the entire situation has been exaggerated,” an insider revealed exclusively to Us Weekly previously. “Her attention is directed towards her career.”
The company has also issued a defense of its advertising initiative.
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ was, and remains, solely about the denim. Her specific jeans. Her personal narrative,” a statement from the clothing chain clarified. “We are committed to continuing to champion how each individual wears their AE jeans with self-assurance, in their unique style. Well-fitting jeans flatter everyone.”
Several weeks thereafter, Sweeney informed WSJ. Magazine that she approaches her brand partnerships with "considerable" strategic thought.
“I believe it’s crucial to stay aware of public sentiment,” Sweeney elaborated in the interview released the previous month. “Every interaction is a dialogue with the public.”
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Without elaborating further on the American Eagle controversy, Sweeney continues to concentrate on recounting Martin's life story.
"I was astonished that her narrative wasn't more widely recognized on a global scale, considering she is truly one of the most challenging and motivational women I have ever encountered,” she shared with Vanity Fair, also disclosing that she put on 30 pounds for the part. “I experienced a profound sense of strength and capability. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My aspiration is to immerse myself completely and serve as a conduit for another person’s experiences."
Beyond increasing her body mass, Sweeney also acquired boxing skills.
"My fighting postures and much of my technique diverge from traditional boxing,” she informed the publication. "One positions themselves differently, and naturally, you aren't taken to the mat — the action stays on your feet. … In every fight sequence you witness [in the film], we are genuinely striking one another. We are engaging with full intensity.”
She added, “It was my firm conviction that authenticity would be lost if a stunt performer was used or if the impacts were simulated.”
