Sydney Sweeney has found herself at the center of controversy following the release of her new American Eagle jeans commercial.
The ad plays on the words “jeans” and “genes,” which many critics argue carries problematic racial undertones. The backlash has been amplified by the fact that the Euphoria star is white and often celebrated for her physical traits, including her blonde hair and blue eyes.
In the commercial, Sweeney says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color,” as the camera pans up her body while she zips and buttons her jeans. She then looks into the camera and adds, “My jeans are blue.”
Doja Cat caught wind of the ad and wasted no time poking fun at it. The Scarlet rapper took to TikTok to parody the spot, repeating Sweeney’s lines with a pitched-down voice and exaggerated country accent.
The wordplay is at the heart of the campaign, which carries the tagline, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”
In an Instagram reel from American Eagle that’s racked up over one million views, Sweeney is seen standing in front of a poster of herself that reads, “Sydney Sweeney has great genes.” The word “genes” is then crossed out and replaced with “jeans,” driving home the double meaning.
