Controversy around Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad continues to spark discourse among fans, and her Americana co-star has now weighed in. While some critics linked the ad’s “great jeans” tagline to problematic eugenics language, Halsey has stepped in to defend the film’s director, Tony Tost, and its hardworking crew.
Halsey defends Americana amid Sydney Sweeney controversy
The backlash began earlier this month after American Eagle launched an ad featuring Sweeney with the line: “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” Many online users accused the slogan of echoing eugenicist rhetoric. Meanwhile, others vowed to boycott both Sweeney’s projects and the brand.
Halsey, who stars alongside Sweeney in Americana, took to Instagram Stories to defend the film from being overshadowed. “I do agree that our words are important in this climate,” she wrote. “But I don’t think it’s fair for the news cycle to predatorily rip a hardworking director and his hardworking crew for their film that is completely separate from a (pretty dumb) advertising take,” she continued.
The singer added that the film should not be punished because of unrelated marketing choices. “You should see this movie because @tonytost made an exceptional film… Because his work and his vision are greater than the 24 hr gossip tabloid denim bulls***,” she posted. (Daily Mail)
Americana opened under Lionsgate’s arthouse Premiere Releasing label, earning around $500,000 from 1,123 theaters. Although modest, the release aligns with the distributor’s niche strategy. Halsey expressed frustration that the ad controversy affected the film’s crew. She wrote in a now-deleted X post, “I am upset that a bunch of non-celebrity people involved in this film are being bullied by the media.”
Directed by Tony Tost, Americana follows outcasts in a South Dakota town. Their lives violently intersect after a rare artifact surfaces on the black market. The film explores themes of survival, morality, and small-town fights, combining western and thriller elements into one.
