Sydney Sweeney Joins American Eagle CEO to Ring NYSE Opening Bell
GOP Youth Advisory Council Co-Chair C.J. Pearson discusses the controversy surrounding the American Eagle advertisement featuring Sydney Sweeney on ‘Varney & Co.’
On Monday, actress Sydney Sweeney had the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). She was joined by American Eagle Outfitters Chairman and CEO Jay Schottenstein, along with other executives from the retailer, as she signed a book on the trading floor.
Sweeney’s partnership with American Eagle in 2025 for an advertising campaign has garnered significant attention online, sparking both interest and controversy.
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Actress Sydney Sweeney appears on a billboard outside the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 9, 2026, in New York City. (Raymond Hall/GC Images via Getty / Getty Images)
At the NYSE, Sweeney donned jeans and a light blue denim jacket, a nod to the “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” slogan released last summer. However, the campaign has faced criticism, with some detractors arguing that its wordplay blurred the line between fashion marketing and genetic references.
In response to the backlash, Sweeney stated in a video, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.”
Actress Sydney Sweeney stands with American Eagle Outfitters executives as she rings the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 9, 2026, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty / Getty Images)
In a show of support, President Donald Trump defended Sweeney in a post on Truth Social, stating, “Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there. It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves.’ Go get ‘em Sydney!”
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American Eagle also addressed the backlash, emphasizing on social media that the ad “is and always was about the jeans.”
Actress Sydney Sweeney stands with American Eagle CEO Jay L. Schottenstein after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate the American Eagle brand on Feb. 9, 2026, in New York. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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American Eagle concluded their statement by affirming, “Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.” They added, “Great jeans look good on everyone.”
GOP Youth Advisory Council Co-Chair C.J. Pearson discusses the controversy surrounding the American Eagle advertisement featuring Sydney Sweeney on ‘Varney & Co.’
On Monday, actress Sydney Sweeney had the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). She was joined by American Eagle Outfitters Chairman and CEO Jay Schottenstein, along with other executives from the retailer, as she signed a book on the trading floor.
Sweeney’s partnership with American Eagle in 2025 for an advertising campaign has garnered significant attention online, sparking both interest and controversy.
SYDNEY SWEENEY TURNS CONTROVERSY INTO CASH AS AMERICAN EAGLE SALES JUMP
Actress Sydney Sweeney appears on a billboard outside the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 9, 2026, in New York City. (Raymond Hall/GC Images via Getty / Getty Images)
At the NYSE, Sweeney donned jeans and a light blue denim jacket, a nod to the “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” slogan released last summer. However, the campaign has faced criticism, with some detractors arguing that its wordplay blurred the line between fashion marketing and genetic references.
In response to the backlash, Sweeney stated in a video, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.”
Actress Sydney Sweeney stands with American Eagle Outfitters executives as she rings the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 9, 2026, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty / Getty Images)
In a show of support, President Donald Trump defended Sweeney in a post on Truth Social, stating, “Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there. It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves.’ Go get ‘em Sydney!”
THE WAR ON HOT WOMEN: WHY THE WOKE MOB HATES SYDNEY SWEENEY
American Eagle also addressed the backlash, emphasizing on social media that the ad “is and always was about the jeans.”
Actress Sydney Sweeney stands with American Eagle CEO Jay L. Schottenstein after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate the American Eagle brand on Feb. 9, 2026, in New York. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
American Eagle concluded their statement by affirming, “Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.” They added, “Great jeans look good on everyone.”
