American Eagle Shares Jump Over 30% Amidst Viral Sydney Sweeney Campaign

New York – American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has seen its shares surge by over 30% in recent weeks, following a controversial marketing campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. The "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" campaign, launched approximately one month ago, initially drew significant social media backlash over perceived racial undertones related to genetic traits. Despite the controversy, the campaign has been credited with driving substantial customer acquisition and market interest.

The campaign's tagline, which played on the words "genes" and "jeans," sparked debate, with some critics suggesting it alluded to eugenics. American Eagle, however, defended the campaign, stating it "is and always was about the jeans." The company's Chief Marketing Officer, Craig Brommers, indicated that the campaign delivered "unprecedented new customer acquisition" and generated 40 billion impressions, contributing to a reported increase of over 700,000 customers since its launch.

The financial markets have reacted positively to the buzz, with American Eagle's stock experiencing a notable increase. This surge aligns with the sentiment expressed in a recent social media post by "The Rabbit Hole," which stated, > "One month ago, America Eagle received backlash from Woke Activists for their viral marketing campaign with Sydney Sweeney. It then got added to our 'I Love America' portfolio on Autopilot. Today, it's up over 30% 🔥 🔥 Wokeness is losing. Truth and beauty are winning."

The campaign also garnered attention from political figures, including former President Donald Trump, who publicly praised the advertisement, further amplifying its reach and framing the discussion within a broader "anti-woke" narrative. American Eagle's strategy, which also includes a collaboration with NFL star Travis Kelce, aims to attract Gen Z consumers and boost demand amidst economic uncertainties. Analysts have noted that the marketing momentum is translating into sales, easing previous concerns about execution.