Fox News viewers were not impressed with host Jesse Watters this week after he spoke about Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney live on air, with some labeling him a ‘stalker’

 
Jesse Watters defended discussing Sydney Sweeney on the segments(Image: Fox News)

Fox News host Jesse Watters has been branded a “creep” after he smirked during a broadcast while discussing Sydney Sweeney’s response to being criticized over her controversial jeans advertisement.

The American Eagle campaign featured the slogan “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” with the word “genes” crossed out and replaced with “jeans.” Many social media users claimed the campaign uses language reminiscent of Nazi propaganda and pointed out that during WWII the Nazi Party pushed the ideology that white people should preferentially reproduce in order to preserve “good genes.”

In her first remarks about the criticism, Sweeney told PEOPLE she “was honestly surprised by the reaction,” adding she teamed up with the brand “because I love the jeans and the brand. I don’t share the views that some people have associated with the campaign. Many have attributed motives and characteristics to me that are simply not true.

She added, “Anyone who knows me knows that I always try to bring people together. I am against hate and division. In the past, my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press, but lately I’ve realized that my silence on the issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.”

Whilst discussing her remarks, Watters, 47, said, “Sydney Sweeney is everywhere. We are in the news business so we have to cover her.” He then grinned before adding, “It’s our duty.”

Many X users slammed Watters and branded his remarks creepy, with some even claiming it was a “thirst trap segment.” One person wrote, “Watters pretending Sydney Sweeney’s rack is “breaking news” while his ratings rot. Fox News thirst-trap segment dressed up as journalism pathetic.”

Another wrote, “Stalker vibes. What a creep,” and a third said, “At this moment I think Watters gat his eyes on Sweeney.”

Watters was branded after he smirked on the segment(Image: Fox News)

A fourth wrote, “That nasty smirk,” and added a nauseated face emoji, while a fifth person simply posted, “Creepy.”

After the campaign launched in July, Sydney was widely slammed online, including by one Instagram user who wrote, “Staging a blue-eyed, blonde, white woman as a symbol of perfect genes seems strange.” Another said, “Kind of reminds me of Germany in the 1930s.”

Sweeney’s ad was compared to Nazi propaganda(Image: INSTAGRAM)

Last month ago, Sydney also addressed the controversy in an interview with GQ and said, “I was promoting jeans. I mean, the reaction was definitely a surprise, but I love jeans.”

American Eagle also responded to critics in a statement, where it said the ad campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”