Sharon Stone Backs Sydney Sweeney With Honest Take: 'It's Hard to Be Hot' Isabella TorregianiOctober 31, 2025 at 1:57 AM 0 Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images Sydney Sweeney faced online backlash this summer after starring in American Eagle's jeans campaign. The ad's tagline, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans," sparked criticism from some who claimed the wordplay on "jeans" and "genes" carried racial undertones and implied genetic superiority. Now, months after the controversy, Sharon Stone is speaking out in her defense.
- - Sharon Stone Backs Sydney Sweeney With Honest Take: 'It's Hard to Be Hot'
Isabella TorregianiOctober 31, 2025 at 1:57 AM
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Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Sydney Sweeney faced online backlash this summer after starring in American Eagle's jeans campaign. The ad's tagline, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans," sparked criticism from some who claimed the wordplay on "jeans" and "genes" carried racial undertones and implied genetic superiority.
Now, months after the controversy, Sharon Stone is speaking out in her defense.
The Hollywood icon, 67, spoke with Variety at the outlet's Power of Women event on Wednesday, October 29, in Los Angeles. "It's okay to use what mama gave you. It's really fine," the Casino star said, defending Sweeney.
"It's hard to be hot, and I think we all know that. It's really okay to use every bit of hotness you have — right here, right now — and go for whatever that is, because everybody has their own certain kind of hotness, their own certain thing, and you're supposed to go for that. Because who are you not to be beautiful? You know, who you are isn't an accident."
While some took issue with the tagline, others criticized the campaign for catering to the male gaze, drawing comparisons to Brooke Shields' 1980 denim ad, which also sparked public debate at the time.
In response, American Eagle clarified the campaign "is and always was about the jeans. Great jeans look good on everyone."
Speaking with Variety, Stone shared that she and Sweeney discussed the controversy during the filming of season three of HBO's Euphoria. To give context, Stone mentioned her late friend and renowned conservationist Jane Goodall, who passed away on October 1.
"Because I was co-godparents with Jane Goodall, I said, 'When Jane was on the cover of Life magazine for her work with gorillas, she was in her safari shorts and shirt, sitting with one of the animals that she was working with,'" Stone recalled.
"Other scientists said, 'Well, she only got the cover of Life magazine because she had good legs.' And Jane said, 'Well, if I did, then that helped me get more money for my research.'"
In response, Sweeney allegedly said, "Yeah, and I'm sure I made a billion dollars for the jeans company, and I'm good with that. Because, you know what? I'll get another job."
At the Variety Power of Women event, Stone presented Sweeney with an award. Sweeney expressed her gratitude on stage, saying Stone "means so much to me." On the red carpet, Stone praised Sweeney's self-assured nature, saying, "She understands herself and she's comfortable and centered and safe within herself."
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Source: Entertainment
Published: October 31, 2025 at 06:09AM on Source: FORTE MAG
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