Nate Bargatze had an interesting outfit choice before introducing Sydney Sweeney as a presenter at the 2025 Emmy Awards.
During the Sunday, September 14, broadcast, Bargatze, 46, swapped his classic tuxedo for one made of denim.
“I have a blue jean tux on for some reason,” the comedian told the crowd. “Do we have like, a joke, there’s a cummerbund and I forgot what it … I don’t know. Alright. Please welcome two-time Emmy nominee Sydney Sweeney.”
Sweeney, 28, walked out in a strapless red satin Oscar de la Renta gown. The Euphoria star did not respond to Bargatze’s denim look and focused on presenting the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. The accolade went to Owen Cooper for his role in Adolescence.
Many assumed that the bit was a reference to Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle jeans ad last month. Producer Jesse Collins confirmed that it was the case after the show.
“Yes, that was his joke toward that,” Collins said to reporters per Variety on Monday, September 15.
In August, Sweeney made headlines for her partnership with the jean brand due to its controversial tagline, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” Many fans believed that the double entendre was promoting eugenics, which is a widely discredited theory about the improvement of human genetics.
Host Nate Bargatze speaks onstage during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
American Eagle stood by its campaign and defended its intended messaging.
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story,” a statement from the retailer read. “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Sweeney, for her part, has not publicly addressed the drama. While promoting her new film, Christy, the actress shut down any questions about the campaign.
“I am there to support my movie and the people involved in making it, and I’m not there to talk about jeans,” she told Vanity Fair in a September profile, ahead of the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of the Christy Martin biopic. “The movie’s about Christy, and that’s what I’ll be there to talk about.”
While Sweeney has not publicly acknowledged the discourse around the ad, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that she was prioritizing her upcoming projects.
“Sydney thinks this whole thing has been blown out of proportion,” the insider explained. “She’s focusing her energy on work, including being back on set with her Euphoria family.”