As the controversy over American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney campaign continued to simmer, it took an even sharper turn when comedian and television icon Rosie O’Donnell weighed in—publicly and unequivocally.
In a candid post on her social media platforms, O’Donnell declared that she would not be caught wearing American Eagle jeans and would refuse any sponsorship from the brand, should one ever be offered. “I’m not interested in being the face of something so disgusting and divisive,” she wrote, her words quickly ricocheting across entertainment news outlets and sparking yet another wave of heated discussion.
O’Donnell’s criticism was pointed. “This isn’t about denim. It’s about what we’re being asked to buy into—a sanitized, exclusionary version of America that ignores the reality for so many people. I’m sick of brands dressing up the past and calling it progress.”
Her stance resonated with many who felt similarly alienated by the campaign’s imagery and messaging. Social media hashtags like #RosieSpeaks and #NoToAmericanEagle began trending, with supporters applauding her willingness to speak truth to power in an industry where silence often prevails.
But not everyone agreed. Critics accused O’Donnell of overreacting, arguing that the campaign was, at worst, tone-deaf and, at best, a harmless nod to Americana. Some questioned whether celebrities should wield such influence over brand perception, while others saw her comments as a necessary intervention in a cultural moment fraught with coded messages and hidden agendas.
For American Eagle, O’Donnell’s remarks represented a new level of scrutiny. The brand, already under pressure to clarify its intentions, now faced the challenge of responding to a beloved public figure’s very public rebuke. Would they address her comments directly? Would they revisit the campaign’s themes? Or would they double down, confident that their vision of denim-clad Americana still resonated with the majority of their audience?
As the story unfolded, one thing became clear: the debate was no longer just about advertising. It was about who gets to define American values—and who gets to say when those values are being misrepresented.