'Insane handgun skills': Sydney Sweeney's shooting video goes viral; praised amid backlash over 'great genes' ad
A short video of 27-year-old actress Sydney Sweeney showing off her handgun skills has gone viral, with social media users impressed by her sharp aim and quick shooting.
In the clip, Sydney can be seen dressed casually with earmuffs on. She is seen confidently loading and firing a Glock.
Her steady stance and tight shot groupings had many online saying she looked like a pro, not a first-timer. Netizens reacted quickly as the video of Sydney Sweeney at a shooting range circulated online.
One user reposted the video and wrote, "Sydney Sweeney has insane handgun skills."
While another user reposted saying, "She doesn't just have great jeans; she's also a total pro at the firing range, unloading 17 rounds in just 9 seconds," referring to her recent American Eagle campaign.
The video's buzz comes in the midst of online backlash over Sweeney's American Eagle ad, which has been criticised for its messaging and portrayal.
The ad, which features Sweeney in a classic Americana setting fixing a car and wearing denim. Then, she uses red paint to change the word 'genes' to 'jeans' and says in a voiceover: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color.
My jeans are blue.'
The tagline read 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans' plays on the word 'genes,' which many critics found problematic.
Some accused the campaign of being overly sexualised and promoting outdated beauty standards, pointing to the focus on Sweeney's blonde hair, blue eyes, and slim physique.
Others went further, interpreting the wordplay as an unintended reference to eugenics, a theory historically used to promote racial superiority.
Earlier on Friday, American Eagle in response issued a statement on Instagram saying the campaign 'is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.'
The brand emphasised that their message celebrates confidence and individuality, saying, 'Great jeans look good on everyone.'
While critics debated the ad's deeper implications, marketing experts noted that the attention, positive or negative has certainly kept both Sweeney and American Eagle in the spotlight.
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