Beyoncé stuns in Levi’s denim shoot amid Sydney Sweeney's ad controversy

Beyoncé has dazzled in new Levi’s campaign, released just days after Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle campaign drew intense backlash from critics accusing it of promoting “Nazi propaganda.”

The 43-year-old music icon looked sensational in a plunging, gem-embellished denim jacket paired with curve-hugging jeans and strappy heels.

She completed the striking ensemble with a Marilyn Monroe-inspired blonde wig and gold grills, offering a sultry contrast to her deep red lipstick.

Beyoncé’s denim-on-denim look has sparked conversations online, especially as it comes on the heels of the viral controversy surrounding actress Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign.

Both campaigns feature retro aesthetics, close-up styling, and a clear nod to vintage Americana but only one has ignited outrage.

Sweeney, 27, became the face of American Eagle’s autumn rollout, which uses the tagline, "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans."

However, critics quickly interpreted the campaign as a not-so-subtle pun linking "jeans" to "genes", drawing uncomfortable associations with white supremacy, eugenics, and historical Nazi propaganda.

A report by Salon noted that the phrase “great genes” has been “historically used to celebrate whiteness, thinness, and conventional attractiveness,” sparking concern that the campaign was a “tone-deaf marketing move.”

In the campaign video, Sweeney is seen buttoning her jeans while narrating, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye colour… my genes are blue.” Another scene shows the camera zooming in on her body before she quips, “Hey, eyes up here.”

One viral comment defended the actress, saying: “It’s a denim campaign, not a manifesto. Not every blonde with blue eyes is a Nazi.”

In response to the uproar, American Eagle issued a statement defending Sweeney and the intention behind the ad: “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans 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.”

Beyoncé’s Levi’s campaign, while similarly styled, has not been accused of such messaging, further fueling comparisons between the two stars’ denim shoots. Fans noted that both ads feature glamorous denim looks, vintage Hollywood vibes, and confident close-up shots. However, Beyoncé made no references to “genes,” ancestry, or body composition, steering clear of any controversial undertones.

This isn’t Beyoncé’s first partnership with Levi’s. Earlier this year, she featured in another Levi’s campaign that celebrated bold femininity and classic American fashion, striking poses while playing pool in a dive bar in a double-denim look.