Ex-Teacher Slammed After Saying Sydney Sweeney Ad Brought Up Old Trauma
By maks in Community, the 4th of August in 2025.
A former teacher has come in the news after she claimed she was made aware that an American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney caused her to feel ugly as a child. What she hoped to share to express her feelings in a meaningful way has gone viraland not in a positive way.
An Emotional Post Turns Viral
Payal Desai, an 8th-grade school teacher in New Jersey turned lifestyle influencer and lifestyle influencer, posted to Instagram with a touching video. She remarked that the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ad resurfaced feelings of fear she felt when she was a teenager.
“For me, I can’t help but think about the 13-year-old brown girl who gets all of her denim at American Eagle, who already struggles to see her beauty and worth in a world that continues to value white, Eurocentric beauty standards.” — Payal Desai (@payalforstyle)
American Eagle
From Instagram to X: The Backlash
The post could have remained within her 441,000 Instagram followers but it was then retweeted onto Twitter’s X (formerly Twitter) by the popular media personality Colin Rugg who mocked her views by adding the following caption:
“The professional victims are relentless.”
The post exploded, clocking more than 10.6 millions views in just 24 hours and prompting an online storm of criticism.
Repost of viral content on the X (July 30 2025):
“NEW: Woman says the American Eagle Sydney Sweeney ad brought back her childhood trauma as a ‘brown girl.’ The professional victims are… relentless.”
-@CollinRugg – @CollinRugg
Harsh Reactions Online
After the video was shared the internet, social media users were quick to respond with critiques. Many have accused Desai of being too dramatic and of putting blame where it is not.
- “If your self-esteem is eroding when you see Sydney Sweeney in jeans, I have a message to share with you: The issue isn’t the color of your skin. It’s you.”
- “Girl I don’t believe in oppression. That’s just insecurity. You must address it by going to therapy. Not via social media. .”
- “This was probably just a grift by her to get everyone to tell her she is pretty.”
Who Is Payal Desai?
Desai 39, born into Indian parents and was raised to Indian parents in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Prior to stepping into all-time creation and editing of digital content, she was employed in the classroom as an eighth-grade teacher.
She’s been viral before. In 2023 the “No Dusty Sons” TikTok series — a series of advice videos to raise respectful boyshas received millions of views and helped build her brand.
The latest controversy she has been involved in, however it is attracting a different type of attention.
“I Wanted To Wake Up Blonde”
In her post that has gone viral, Desai shared her struggles being a part of a predominantly white society.
“I recall wishing I was to be free of this body and out of this society. If my name meant that I would wake up blue-eyed and blonde and never have to declare my identity or be concerned over being accepted. This is the reason why the American Eagle ad with Sydney Sweeney is particularly offensive. .”
Comments Turned Off
After the criticism, Desai has now shut down the comments to her Instagram video that triggered the ruckus. While her fans praise her for speaking out about the racial issues that plague her but critics claim she has strayed into the realm of unnecessary victimhood.
Whatever the case it’s clear that what began as an individual reflection has turned into a huge online debate on beauty standards, security, and the effects of advertising.
