The Truth Behind Sydney Sweeney’s AE “Great Jeans” Controversy

In Dinner for Shoes episode 78, host Sarah Wasilak breaks down the most controversial celebrity fashion campaigns — and what they say about the messy intersection of style, politics, and personal values.

First up: American Eagle’s “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” ad, which is getting serious internet backlash. Sarah also covers two other headline-making moments:

• Miley Cyrus’s recent Dolce & Gabbana eyewear ad, despite her 2017 criticism of the brand’s politics

• Bella Hadid’s pulled Adidas campaign tied to the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics attack

  
  

From celebrity endorsements gone wrong to the question of how to respond when your favorite brands clash with your own beliefs, Sarah offers thoughtful and practical ways forward.

And because controversy comes in all flavors, she also tackles the ultimate divisive topic: pineapple on pizza… for the first time ever.

💌 Need style advice? Call or text the Shoe Therapy Hotline at 917-336-2057 or tag #ShoeTherapy on TikTok or Instagram for a chance to be featured in an upcoming episode.

THIS DINNER

Traditional pizza with fig balsamic drizzle, basil, fresh mozzarella, classic tomato sauce, and pineapple from &pizza

in Jersey City, NJ 

THESE SHOES

Coach Thong Kitten Heel

THIS OUTFIT

Shop my look       

Garage top

Reformation jeans

Borrowed hoop earrings

BaubleBar salt shaker earring

THESE CHAPTERS

00:00 INTRO

01:59 THE OUTFIT BEHIND THE SHOES

06:30 SYDNEY SWEENEY X AMERICAN EAGLE

13:20 MILEY CYRUS X DOLCE & GABBANA

19:04 BELLA HADID X ADIDAS

21:50 SHOULD WE BOYCOTT FASHION BRANDS?

28:15 PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA

THIS PRODUCTION

is created, written, hosted, and produced by Sarah Wasilak.

is creative directed and executive produced by Megan Kai.

is tech supervised by Nick.

includes photos and videos in chronological order by American Eagle, Sarah Wasilak, Lizzo TikTok, Lizzo Instagram, Miley Cyrus, HauteLeMode YouTube, Dolce & Gabbana, Adidas, Bella Hadid, and Medium.

references “American Eagle-Sydney Sweeney Controversy: AEO Cashes In On Online Uproar” via Forbes , Sayantani DasGupta TikTok, “The Sydney Sweeney Denim Ad Takeaway Nobody Is Talking About” via Popsugar, Sydney Sweeney American Eagle YouGov poll, A History of Dolce & Gabbana’s Problematic Behavior via .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}