Cynthia Erivo has ignited a heated online debate after asserting that she would be a “better face of jeans” than Sydney Sweeney, sparking discussions around race, cultural ownership, and fashion representation. The comments were made during a November 25, 2025, appearance on The Breakfast Club podcast, where Erivo addressed criticism of Sweeney’s July 2025 American Eagle campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.”
Critics had raised concerns that the campaign’s playful wordplay—linking “genes” and “jeans”—evoked uncomfortable eugenics rhetoric and reinforced narrow, white-centric beauty standards. Speaking to the hosts, Erivo emphasized that denim has a rich history intertwined with Black labor and cultural innovation, and she argued that Black excellence embodies the garment more authentically than celebrity branding alone.
“Black people played a central role in shaping the cultural significance of jeans,” Erivo said, noting that while the 1873 patent for denim pants is officially credited to Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, Black communities helped transform the garment into a global cultural icon. “Through resilience, creativity, and style, Black innovation has made denim what it is today,” she added.
Erivo’s comments resonated with many supporters who applauded her for highlighting overlooked contributions of Black communities to fashion and culture. Social media users praised her for challenging the fashion industry’s tendency to spotlight white figures while minimizing the labor and influence of Black innovators. Hashtags celebrating Erivo’s stance began trending, with commentators framing her remarks as a necessary intervention in conversations about cultural recognition and representation.
However, critics accused Erivo of exaggerating history and performing for publicity. Some argued that cultural influence does not equate to invention, and that her framing risked oversimplifying denim’s complex history. Fashion analysts also noted that marketing campaigns often rely on recognizable celebrity faces to appeal to broad audiences, making debates about representation both nuanced and highly subjective.
The controversy has sparked a broader conversation about who defines cultural legacy and who fashion brands choose to spotlight. Observers point out that debates over race, ownership, and recognition are not new to the industry, but the viral nature of this moment underscores how quickly social media amplifies cultural arguments.
Experts note that Erivo’s remarks tap into larger questions around the appropriation of cultural contributions and the importance of representation in media and advertising. Fashion historian Dr. Alicia Greene explained, “Denim is more than a fabric; it’s a symbol shaped by generations of labor, identity, and innovation. Recognizing the communities that contributed to its cultural significance is essential, and it’s not surprising that such conversations provoke strong reactions.”
As the online debate continues, the Erivo-Sweeney controversy serves as a microcosm of broader societal discussions about race, representation, and recognition in fashion. While some view the exchange as a call to re-examine who is celebrated in mainstream campaigns, others see it as a clash of marketing, celebrity culture, and historical interpretation.
Ultimately, the conversation sparked by Cynthia Erivo is likely to continue evolving, raising critical questions about cultural heritage, authenticity, and the role of public figures in shaping the narrative around fashion and identity.
