In a bizarre and controversial move, members of the far-right extremist group, the Proud Boys, have vandalized a billboard along a Los Angeles freeway, putting up a banner that reads:
“Proud Boys love Sydney Sweeney. She has the best blue genes.”
This twisted play on words riffs on American Eagle’s recent “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” ad campaign — which has already sparked heated debate over accusations of implicit racism and insensitivity.
What Happened?
Reports say the banner was placed sometime recently, but the exact timing and perpetrators remain unclear. Locals expressed shock and fear over the message, with one telling KABC that it made them feel “angry, scared, disappointed.”
The vandalized billboard has ignited outrage on social media, with many condemning the Proud Boys for co-opting Sydney Sweeney’s name and the campaign in a disturbing way.
The American Eagle Campaign Controversy
The original campaign features actress Sydney Sweeney proudly endorsing American Eagle’s denim line. Its catchy tagline, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” was designed to promote the jeans but quickly attracted criticism for perceived racial undertones — some critics claimed the campaign’s language was a thinly veiled nod to race and privilege.
Proud Boys’ Twisted Take
By changing “jeans” to “genes,” the Proud Boys weaponized the slogan to imply racial superiority, inflaming an already tense public debate. This act appears to confirm fears that the campaign could be exploited by extremist groups to push divisive agendas.
Political Fallout
The controversy escalated when former President Donald Trump publicly praised Sydney Sweeney after learning she is a registered Republican, adding another layer of political drama to the cultural debate.
What’s Next?
American Eagle has maintained that the campaign was “always about the jeans,” distancing itself from the Proud Boys’ misuse of the message. Still, the incident raises concerns about how marketing campaigns can be hijacked by extremist groups to spread harmful ideologies.
What do you think about this shocking vandalism?
Drop your thoughts below and stay tuned to The Pop Radar (TPR) for exclusive updates on this evolving story.