ABeyoncéad for Levi's jeans is being compared toSydney Sweeney's controversial American Eagle campaign, but other social media users argue the two are far from similar. "Euphoria" star Sweeneyis facing backlash as the face ofAmerican Eagle's newest campaign. Thedenim adand its tagline "Sydney Sweeneyhas great jeans" drew sharp criticism online with some users accusing the brand of promoting eugenics. In a campaign video, Sweeney lies in a full denim ensemble as she leans into wordplay: "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue." The camera then shows Sweeney's blue eyes before a message reads, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." The criticism wasn't about the denim itself, but the language used. Social media users argued the phrase "great genes" paired with a blond-haired, blue-eyed starechoed eugenicideas — the discredited belief in improving humanity through selective breeding. Some also argued it contributed to the glorification of whiteness. Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle, oh my god.pic.twitter.com/tDkeGT9R7G — Sydney Sweeney Daily (@sweeneydailyx)July 24, 2025 Eventually,Beyoncé's recent Levi's campaign,where she poses in a similar position in a denim-on-demin outfit with blond hair,was dragged into the discourse. So Beyoncé can pose in Levi jeans and it's art…But when a white woman does it, it's a national crisis?pic.twitter.com/aWu3h6nrL8 — Desiree (@DesireeAmerica4)July 29, 2025 One userwrote, "SoBeyoncécan pose in Levi jeans and it's art… But when a white woman does it, it's a national crisis?" as she shared a photo of the two ads side-by-side. However, many were quick to point out the differences between the two. Just going to leave this pic from Beyoncé Levi's campaign right here for those saying Sydney Sweeney with her blond hair/denim/sultry look is racist…pic.twitter.com/ZyeMF6ouCI — Nicole Saphier, MD (@NBSaphierMD)July 30, 2025 Another said, "Just going to leave this pic form Beyoncé Levi's campaign right here for those saying Sydney Sweeney with her blond hair/denim/sultry look is racist..." A userresponded,"No one said that, what was said though was that the ad's inference that blonde hair and blue eyes are superior." The Grammy-winning singer announced hercollaboration with Levi'slast fall. She has since released multiple campaigns with the denim powerhouse. But she has never alluded to genes or genetics, focusing solely on the quality and design of the jeans themselves. One social media user,@dukepege, takes this notion a step deeper: "At what point will it be fully understood that proclaiming or implying 'my genes (jeans) are better' is frightening to any race who's ancestors for long generations have had to suffer at the hands of the very same race of people with the same kind of thinking — that their genes are superior?" He added, "No, such statements are not benign; they are echoes of a violent and dehumanizing history and the fact that you involve Beyoncé explains very well how you're still unable to comprehend what's being felt." The conversation comes after Beyoncé was baselesslypulled into another controversywhen PresidentDonald Trumpaccused her ofbeing paid $11 million to endorse Kamala Harris' presidential bid— a payment thethe Federal Election Commission has no record of. The Grammy-winning singer concluded herCowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tourin Las Vegas on July 26. The 32-stop stadium tour became the highest grossing country tour,earning over $400 million. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, onInstagram,TikTokandXas @cachemcclay. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Beyoncé's Levi's jeans ad pulled into Sydney Sweeney backlash