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Daily Mail
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sydney Sweeney faces new 'toxic time bomb' after unholy backlash to 'racist' American Eagle ad
Sydney Sweeney is facing intense backlash over her latest American Eagle campaign and it's stirring a fierce debate about race, marketing and accountability. Earlier this week, the Euphoria star, 27, became the face of American Eagle's fall denim campaign featuring the tagline, 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans' — a deliberate play on the phrase 'great genes.' One viral clip shows Sweeney standing in front of a poster reading 'Sydney Sweeney has great genes,' with the word 'genes' crossed out and replaced with 'jeans.' Another video includes Sweeney saying, 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color,' as the camera pans to her blue eyes, then she adds, 'My jeans are blue.' While the campaign's clever wordplay was intended to be playful and bold, it ignited accusations on social media platforms of promoting racial undertones, eugenics, and white supremacy — largely due to the focus on genetics alongside Sweeney's blue-eyed image. As of Tuesday morning, neither Sweeney nor American Eagle had publicly addressed the controversy, a silence that's become its own lightning rod. Daily Mail has reached out to Sweeney's team and American Eagle for comment, but they have not yet responded. Amid the backlash, crisis PR expert Eric Schiffer didn't mince his words about the risks of Sweeney's silence in an interview with 'Sydney's mute button is a toxic time‑bomb with some people on the left – every hour of hush hurls her wholesome brand deeper into racial quicksand,' the CEO of Reputation Management Consultants claimed. He warned that failing to speak out 'will be seen as a brutal insult to many shoppers on the left.' Schiffer continued, 'Sydney's no‑comment stance will scream ruthless privilege to those offended and critics feast on the void like vultures on a desert carcass.' Still, Schiffer acknowledged how Sweeney staying quiet might resonate differently with conservative audiences. 'For conservatives, Sydney refusing to grovel denies the mob its delicious public‑shaming ritual and would be seen as a brutal power move,' he said. 'Because for conservatives, silence isn't weakness, it's an ironclad shield against manipulative narrative‑hijackers.' The ad campaign remains visible on American Eagle's website, which lauds Sweeney's 'girl next door charm' and 'main character energy.' But for many observers, charm and brushing off the critics alone won't defuse what's now become a PR landmine. Alexandria Hurley, a Las Vegas-based publicist, speculated to that the idea to stir the pot was not a mistake at all. 'From a PR perspective, what we're seeing from Sydney Sweeney isn't a "misstep" or "Pepsi moment." It's a calculated brand evolution. The idea that this ad slipped through the cracks underestimates both her and her team,' she explained. Hurley went on to point out: 'Sydney has flirted with controversy before — from her SNL Hooters skit to her recent Bathwater Bliss collaboration with Dr. Squatch — and rather than walk it back after criticism, she's leaned further in. That's not oversight. That's strategy.' She also stressed that the 'Great Genes' tagline was 'deliberately' provocative and that the 'racial undertones being called out aren't subtle.' 'Instead of apologizing, she and American Eagle quickly pivoted with a visual 'fix,' having her paint over the billboard. It's a gesture that looks performative at best, especially in the absence of any direct acknowledgement of the criticism,' Hurley stated. As for whether the silence is hurting Sweeney, Hurley responded: 'Not necessarily — because I don't think silence is the problem. It's the intention. This is a play for attention, not respectability. She's embracing a kind of polarizing, headline-generating persona — and for now, it's working. It has people talking, and brands who care more about reach than responsibility may still line up. That's the gamble.' Jonathon Narvey, CEO and Founder of Mind Meld PR Inc., offered a similar perspective. 'It's possible that American Eagle was counting on precisely this kind of media buzz. It's not that the ad itself is controversial. The tagline is vaguely funny and Sydney Sweeney is an attractive person, so on its own, maybe this fashion advertisement would have been destined for a 'meh' kind of reaction. But the Internet being what it is, they may have anticipated this so-called controversy,' he conjectured. Christina Kroll, founder of Kroll PR, pointed to the layered risks in fashion messaging today: 'In today's hyper-aware media climate, where every word is scrutinized for tone and implication, simplicity isn't always a strength.' Kroll concluded: 'Campaigns like this demand the insight of seasoned professionals, not interns, because understanding nuance and cultural context is critical.' Grayce McCormick, founder of Lightfinder Public Relations and crisis communications strategist, stressed the dangers of silence. 'A direct acknowledgment would humanize her, affirm that she's listening, and model accountability to her young, diverse audience,' McCormick advised. Toni Ferrara, founder and CEO of Ferrara Media, pushed back on the severity of the criticism. 'Not every controversy needs a Notes app apology. Sydney isn't a politician, she's the face of a denim ad. Her silence isn't necessarily making things worse, it's often smarter to let the brand take the lead when the message and controversy stems from their creative direction,' Ferrara said. Alexandria Hammond, Principal at BrandNEWS PR Consulting Firm, weighed in on Sweeney's responsibility in this situation. 'This situation is 75% American Eagle's responsibility and 25% Sydney Sweeney's. Major brands must have diverse voices in decision-making positions to avoid situations like this,' Hammond added. 'The only reason we're hearing about this one is because of who the brand and the talent are. Sydney absolutely has the right — and the platform — to question the brand's messaging. By agreeing to this campaign, she essentially co-signed both the brand and its message.' Hammond warned, 'Sydney needs to acknowledge her privilege as a white woman in her response. She cannot hide behind American Eagle's misstep because she was a willing participant. In agreeing to this campaign, she showed that for the right price, she was willing to ignore the values of her diverse, young fan base. Bottom line: she sold out.' Meanwhile, celebrity publicist Sarah Anne Schmidt offered a balanced view on next steps. 'Unless she was deeply involved in the messaging itself, it's likely the final language was handled by the brand's creative team or agency partners. In this case, the public backlash centers on the tagline, not the visuals or creative choices that most talent weigh in on,' Schmidt said. Schmidt also emphasized the importance of response timing as 'silence creates a vacuum.' 'Speed, candor, and authenticity are the foundation of trust. A response should come from Sydney, but depending on her contract, she may not be able to speak until she aligns with the brand on their shared path forward. When she does, the tone should be empathetic and direct, not defensive,' the publicist recommended. Publicist Courtney Haywood echoed the call for direct accountability. 'In this moment, silence is for sure not golden! Silence doesn't equal neutrality, and it reads as indifference,' she said. 'Especially in a cultural climate where audiences are more aware and vocal than ever, waiting too long to speak up only adds fuel to the fire.' Haywood urged Sweeney to 'own the moment' and not 'hide behind legal jargon or brand language.' 'Acknowledge how it landed, thank the people who spoke up, and commit to learning from it. That's what builds long-term credibility, not perfection,' she said. As the debate over American Eagle's campaign continues to unfold, Sweeney's next steps are being closely watched. Whether she chooses to address the controversy directly or remains silent, the situation underscores the growing challenges celebrities and brands face navigating cultural sensitivity in today's hyper-connected, politically charged landscape.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sydney Sweeney Warned She's Sitting On 'Toxic Time Bomb' By Staying Mum On American Eagle Ad Backlash
Experts are weighing in on Sydney Sweeney's silence amid mounting backlash over her American Eagle denim campaign. The actress's decision to remain silent has been described as a "toxic time bomb" that could damage her wholesome image. Despite the controversy, American Eagle's stock has surged since the campaign's release, prompting a company spokesperson to publicly praise their collaboration with Sydney Sweeney. Sydney Sweeney Came Under Fire For Her American Eagle Ad As backlash over her American Eagle denim campaign continues to grow, Sydney Sweeney's silence has sparked concern among branding experts, who suggest that her inaction may be more damaging than the controversy itself. The actress was seen in multiple videos seemingly praising her "genes" in what appeared to be a cheeky denim pun for the brand's "jeans" campaign. In one of the ads, Sweeney says, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color... My 'jeans' are blue." After the ads went viral, many netizens were quick to criticize the campaign, claiming it had racial undertones, promoted white supremacy, and aligned with Nazi propaganda. Expert Claims The Actress's Silence Could Damage Her 'Wholesome' Brand Now, top crisis PR expert Eric Schiffer has weighed in on Sweeney's silence, describing it as a "toxic time bomb" that could damage her "wholesome brand." "Sydney's mute button is a toxic time‑bomb with some people on the left – every hour of hush hurls her wholesome brand deeper into racial quicksand," Schiffer shared, per the Daily Mail. The CEO of Reputation Management Consultants also noted that many will also perceive Sweeney's silence as "a brutal insult to many shoppers on the left." "Sydney's no‑comment stance will scream ruthless privilege to those offended, and critics feast on the void like vultures on a desert carcass," he added. Another Expert Called For Sydney Sweeney To Own The Moment As Her Silence Is 'For Sure Not Golden' Schiffer's warning was echoed by other industry experts, who called the actress's decision to stay silent a serious misstep. "In this moment, silence is for sure not golden! Silence doesn't equal neutrality, and it reads as indifference," Publicist Courtney Haywood told the outlet. "Especially in a cultural climate where audiences are more aware and vocal than ever, waiting too long to speak up only adds fuel to the fire." Haywood also shared that she expects Sweeney to "own the moment" and learn from it, as doing so would be better for her brand. "Acknowledge how it landed, thank the people who spoke up, and commit to learning from it. That's what builds long-term credibility, not perfection," she said. Another expert pointed out that even if Sweeney chooses not to apologize, she should at the very least acknowledge the backlash. "A direct acknowledgment would humanize her, affirm that she's listening, and model accountability to her young, diverse audience," said crisis communications strategist Grayce McCormick. The Actress Wants To Appear Polarizing Amid Silence Over Campaign Backlash Some other experts, however, offered a different perspective on Sweeney's silence, suggesting that the actress may be intentionally choosing not to respond in order to appear polarizing. "This is a play for attention, not respectability. She's embracing a kind of polarizing, headline-generating persona — and for now, it's working," said Publicist Alexandria Hurley. Hurley also claimed that the ad was unlikely to be a misstep but rather a "calculated brand evolution," especially considering Sweeney's history with past controversial campaigns. "Sydney has flirted with controversy before — from her SNL Hooters skit to her recent Bathwater Bliss collaboration with Dr. Squatch — and rather than walk it back after criticism, she's leaned further in," Hurley added. "That's not oversight. That's strategy." Now, she expects that brands focused on reach and visibility will be more eager to work with Sweeney. American Eagle's Shares Have Soared Since Sydney Sweeney's Campaign Amid the backlash surrounding the campaign, American Eagle's stock has surged above $11, after trading between $9 and the mid-$10 range for most of the summer. It's no surprise, then, that the company's Chief Marketing Officer, Craig Brommers, hinted in a recent interview with Marketing Dive that partnering with Sweeney was a bold move that has ultimately paid off. "To be able to partner with [Sweeney] on this is saying something, and it's saying something in what has been a trickier retail environment this year, that American Eagle is still placing big bets," he said, per the Daily Mail. "We are still the jeans authority, especially for Gen Z." He added, "What we've also learned along the way is as talent costs have escalated, sometimes it's actually more important to place the big bets behind the biggest stars, and while those investments tend to be higher, the payback tends to be higher as well."
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Apple to move iPhone production to India to mitigate tariffs as sales decline
Apple to move iPhone production to India to mitigate tariffs as sales decline Show Caption Hide Caption Apple moving most US iphone production from China to India Apple has a strategy for avoiding President Trump's steep tariffs on China: making more of its iPhones in India. A source told Reuters the tech giant is holding urgent talks with manufacturers Foxconn and Tata with the goal of producing most of its U.S.-bound iPhones in India by the end of 2026. Apple AAPL.O is expected to face a string of questions over the delayed roll-out of key AI features and the impact of the Sino-U.S. tariff standoff on its business, when it reports results on Thursday. Even as Apple benefited from a rush of orders for its recently launched lower-priced iPhone 16e in the January-March period ahead of potential tariffs, Wall Street analysts still expect the company will report a small fall in iPhone sales. That would mark a second straight quarter of declines. The Trump administration has so far spared electronics from tariffs, but Washington has signaled that some levies could come in the coming weeks. The uncertainty has sent shares of Apple, which makes 90% of its products in China, down more than 16% this year, and wiping off over $600 billion from its market value. A $2,300 iPhone? What Trump tariffs could mean for your next Apple purchase Apple will try to mitigate tariffs by shifting production of U.S.-bound iPhones to India, Reuters has reported. Analysts expect the company to spread some of the tariff costs through its supply chain, while keeping price increases to a minimum to avoid losing market share. "Tariffs are a sword of Damocles for Apple – dangling, disruptive and politically charged," said Eric Schiffer, chairman of Patriarch Organization, a California-based private equity firm that holds Apple shares. Unlike rivals such as Samsung and Alphabet's GOOGL.O Google, Apple has also been slow to roll out some important AI features it promised last year at its developer conference. Improvements to voice assistant Siri, a common ask from users and investors, have been delayed to 2026, and Apple pulled a commercial that promoted AI functionalities that were not yet available. AI features are especially important in China, where Apple has been losing market share to domestic rivals such as Huawei. Apple has partnered with Alibaba to offer AI services in China but hasn't offered a timeline for their roll-out. IPhone shipments in China fell 9% in the March quarter, the only major smartphone maker to post a decline in the region, according to data from research firm IDC. Despite these challenges, strong demand for the $599 iPhone 16e in India helped Apple take the top spot for global smartphone sales in the quarter, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple's cautious, privacy-first approach to AI deployment has slowed its roll-out and left the company playing catch up, said Jacob Bourne, analyst at eMarketer. "With tariffs threatening cost structures, Apple faces pressure to move faster on AI innovation and supply chain realignment - both of which are capital intensive". Overall, Apple's revenue is expected to rise 4.2% in the January-March period, its fiscal second quarter, roughly matching the pace in the first quarter. Growth will likely be driven by upbeat iPad demand and growth in the services business. IPad sales are expected to rise 9.1% in the second quarter, while the services business, Apple's biggest revenue generator after the iPhone, will likely grow 11.8%. Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Shounak Dasgupta
Business Recorder
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Wall Street choppy as markets juggle trade war news
NEW YORK: Wall Street's main indexes moved higher in volatile trading on Tuesday as a mixed bag of corporate earnings, soft economic data and fresh developments on the US-China trade front kept investors on the sidelines. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted China could lose 10 million jobs quickly due to tariffs, but signaled progress on trade deals with other countries including Japan and India. The world's two largest economies have slapped tit-for-tat import tariffs on each other and uncertainty around the state of negotiations between the two has kept markets on edge. There is still some optimism around 'what will likely be deals with India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea', but talks with China will likely be 'the last pin to fall', said Patriarch Organization CEO Eric Schiffer. A day after US officials said the Trump administration will move to reduce the impact of automotive tariffs, shares of Ford were only marginally higher and Tesla fell 0.6%. The blue-chip Dow got a boost as Honeywell jumped 5.4% on reporting a rise in adjusted profit for the first quarter. Paintmaker Sherwin-Williams gained 5% after its quarterly profit beat estimates. However, General Motors fell 1.6% after the automaker pulled its annual forecast due to tariff uncertainty. The day's data releases also pointed to an increasingly murky economic outlook. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dropped to its lowest reading since May 2020, while job openings came in at 7.19 million in March, below estimates of 7.48 million. 'We're just in this eye of the storm ... for a lot of investors, consumers, and business leaders wondering what the future looks like as potential tariffs kick in down the road,' said Matthew Stucky, chief portfolio manager at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management. At 11:49 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 243.76 points, or 0.61%, to 40,471.35, the S&P 500 gained 13.75 points, or 0.25%, to 5,542.50 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 26.30 points, or 0.15%, to 17,392.44. More economic data, including nonfarm payrolls, is expected this week, and results from many of the 'Magnificent Seven' group of megacap stocks are also due, with investors hawk-eyed on any signs of tariff impact on their outlook. All three major indexes remain down for the year, despite the S&P 500 logging its best winning streak since November on Monday. HSBC became the latest brokerage to trim its year-end target for the S&P 500 index, cutting it to 5,600 from 6,700 earlier.
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Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Wall Street choppy as markets juggle trade war news, mixed earnings
Wall Street's main indexes moved higher in volatile trading on Tuesday as a mixed bag of corporate earnings, soft economic data and fresh developments on the US-China trade front kept investors on the sidelines. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted China could lose 10 million jobs quickly due to tariffs, but signaled progress on trade deals with other countries including Japan and India. The world's two largest economies have slapped tit-for-tat import tariffs on each other and uncertainty around the state of negotiations between the two has kept markets on edge. There is still some optimism around "what will likely be deals with India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea", but talks with China will likely be "the last pin to fall", said Patriarch Organization CEO Eric Schiffer. A day after US officials said the Trump administration will move to reduce the impact of automotive tariffs, shares of Ford were only marginally higher and Tesla fell 0.6 per cent. The blue-chip Dow got a boost as Honeywell jumped 5.4 per cent on reporting a rise in adjusted profit for the first quarter. Paintmaker Sherwin-Williams gained 5 per cent after its quarterly profit beat estimates. However, General Motors fell 1.6 per cent after the automaker pulled its annual forecast due to tariff uncertainty. The day's data releases also pointed to an increasingly murky economic outlook. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dropped to its lowest reading since May 2020, while job openings came in at 7.19 million in March, below estimates of 7.48 million. "We're just in this eye of the storm ... for a lot of investors, consumers, and business leaders wondering what the future looks like as potential tariffs kick in down the road," said Matthew Stucky, chief portfolio manager at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management. At 11:49 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 243.76 points, or 0.61 per cent, to 40,471.35, the S&P 500 gained 13.75 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 5,542.50 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 26.30 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 17,392.44. More economic data, including nonfarm payrolls, is expected this week, and results from many of the "Magnificent Seven" group of megacap stocks are also due, with investors hawk-eyed on any signs of tariff impact on their outlook. All three major indexes remain down for the year, despite the S&P 500 logging its best winning streak since November on Monday. HSBC became the latest brokerage to trim its year-end target for the S&P 500 index, cutting it to 5,600 from 6,700 earlier. Coca-Cola rose 0.6 per cent after beating revenue and profit estimates, while United Parcel Service edged 0.2 per cent lower after its quarterly results. Wells Fargo gained 1.3 per cent after announcing a stock buyback program of up to $40 billion. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.26-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.11-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted 3 new 52-week highs and 4 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 23 new highs and 47 new lows. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
