Cyabra Launches Deepfake Detection

Viral Backlash Hits American Eagle Ad

Cyabra uncovered how fake accounts on TikTok and a controversial slogan turned a fashion campaign into an online firestorm.

Cyabra analyzed viral conversations across TikTok, X, and Facebook between July 23 and 29, 2025, following the release of American Eagle’s campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney. Initial praise quickly turned into controversy over the slogan “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” which many interpreted as racially suggestive, triggering a wave of backlash and boycott calls.

15% of the profiles analyzed were fake, responsible for spreading over 700 critical posts that amplified hashtags and narratives accusing the brand of racism and exclusionary beauty standards. These fake accounts mimicked real outrage and fueled the campaign’s viral trajectory.

Inauthentic profiles drove a 4,000% spike in harmful sentiment and generated over 77,000 engagements on TikTok alone. The backlash reached an estimated 881 million views, turning a single advertisement into a full-scale reputational crisis shaped by coordinated disinformation.

#Brand Reputation, Threat Actors

Share this report
Share this report

Fill up the form below and receive the full report directly to your inbox

Related reports

Engagements Vs. Exposure – 5 PR Misconceptions

January 16, 2023

An analysis of common PR Misconceptions on social media.

Tweet from LEGO Star Wars Skywalker Saga countdown account reading '37 days till LEGO Star Wars the Skywalker Saga releases', accompanied by metrics of 1,362 engagements, 11,496,905 exposure, and 8,368 followers on a purple gradient background

#Brand Reputation

Insider Threats – Amazon

February 1, 2023

Uncovering prior Amazon employees sharing content attempting to harm the brand’s reputation

Two tweets with usernames blurred where self-identified Amazon workers describe being bullied and fired, criticizing the company’s high turnover, low concern for lower-level staff, and taxing work conditions

#Brand Reputation

Phantom Fans Influencing the ESPN Conversation

July 29, 2025

Cyabra revealed that 41% of anti-ESPN discourse came from fake profiles, which reached an estimated audience of 150,000.

#Brand Reputation, Threat Actors