Consultants are weighing in on Sydney Sweeney‘s silence amid mounting backlash over her American Eagle denim marketing campaign.

The actress’s determination to stay silent has been described as a “poisonous time bomb” that would harm her healthful picture.r

Regardless of the controversy, American Eagle’s inventory has suged because the marketing campaign’s launch, prompting an organization spokesperson to publicly reward their collaboration with Sydney Sweeney.

As backlash over her American Eagle denim marketing campaign continues to develop, Sydney Sweeney’s silence has sparked concern amongst branding consultants, who recommend that her inaction could also be extra damaging than the controversy itself.

The actress was seen in a number of movies seemingly praising her “genes” in what seemed to be a cheeky denim pun for the model’s “denims” marketing campaign.

In one of many adverts, Sweeney says, “Genes are handed down from dad and mom to offspring, usually figuring out traits like hair colour, persona, and even eye colour… My ‘denims’ are blue.”

After the adverts went viral, many netizens had been fast to criticize the marketing campaign, claiming it carried racial undertones, promoted white supremacy, and aligned with Nazi propaganda.

Now, high disaster PR skilled Eric Schiffer has weighed in on Sweeney’s silence, describing it as a “poisonous time bomb” that would harm her “healthful model.”

“Sydney’s mute button is a poisonous time‑bomb with some individuals on the left – each hour of hush hurls her healthful model deeper into racial quicksand,” Schiffer shared, per the Day by day Mail.

The CEO of Popularity Administration Consultants additionally famous that many will even understand Sweeney’s silence as “a brutal insult to many patrons on the left.”

“Sydney’s no‑remark stance will scream ruthless privilege to these offended, and critics feast on the void like vultures on a desert carcass,” he added.

Schiffer’s warning was echoed by different trade consultants, who known as the actress’s determination to remain silent a critical misstep.

“On this second, silence is for certain not golden! Silence does not equal neutrality, and it reads as indifference,” Publicist Courtney Haywood informed the outlet. “Particularly in a cultural local weather the place audiences are extra conscious and vocal than ever, ready too lengthy to talk up solely provides gas to the hearth.”

Haywood additionally shared that she expects Sweeney to “personal the second” and be taught from it, as doing so can be higher for her model.

“Acknowledge the way it landed, thank the individuals who spoke up, and decide to studying from it. That is what builds long-term credibility, not perfection,” she stated.

One other skilled identified that even when Sweeney chooses to not apologize, she ought to on the very least acknowledge the backlash.

“A direct acknowledgment would humanize her, affirm that she’s listening, and mannequin accountability to her younger, various viewers,” stated disaster communications strategist Grayce McCormick.

Another consultants, nonetheless, provided a special perspective on Sweeney’s silence, suggesting that the actress could also be deliberately selecting to not reply with a view to seem polarizing.

“This can be a play for consideration, not respectability. She’s embracing a form of polarizing, headline-generating persona — and for now, it is working,” stated Publicist Alexandria Hurley.

Hurley additionally claimed that the advert was unlikely to be a misstep however quite a “calculated model evolution,” particularly contemplating Sweeney’s historical past with previous controversial campaigns.

“Sydney has flirted with controversy earlier than — from her SNL Hooters skit to her latest Bathwater Bliss collaboration with Dr. Squatch — and quite than stroll it again after criticism, she’s leaned additional in,” Hurley added. “That is not oversight. That is technique.”