Are Sydney Sweeney's ‘blue genes' too white for the internet?
Sydney Sweeney for the
US clothing brand American Eagle has triggered the latest online firestorm, causing an internet meltdown.
Some social media users are outraged, saying the wordplay of the tagline 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans', coupled with the actor's blue eyes and blonde hair, has racial undertones. Others are praising the campaign as lacking 'woke' politics.
'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My genes are blue,' Sweeney, wearing denim on denim, says in one video.
People across social media have levelled criticism spanning the gamut, with some saying the campaign promotes 'white supremacy' and 'eugenics', while others have called it 'sterile', a sign of 'regression' or simply 'rage bait'.
But many others have applauded the campaign, posting comments like 'woke is broke!' and 'culture shift!'.
Conservative Republican senator Ted Cruz of Texas posted a photo of Sweeney on social media and wrote: 'Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women. I'm sure that will poll well.'
Neither American Eagle nor the Emmy-nominated Sweeney, the 27-year-old actor best known for roles in the series The White Lotus and Euphoria, have publicly responded to the backlash.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Are Sydney Sweeney's ‘blue genes' too white for the internet?
An advertising campaign starring Sydney Sweeney for the US clothing brand American Eagle has triggered the latest online firestorm, causing an internet meltdown. Some social media users are outraged, saying the wordplay of the tagline 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans', coupled with the actor's blue eyes and blonde hair, has racial undertones. Others are praising the campaign as lacking 'woke' politics. 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My genes are blue,' Sweeney, wearing denim on denim, says in one video. People across social media have levelled criticism spanning the gamut, with some saying the campaign promotes 'white supremacy' and 'eugenics', while others have called it 'sterile', a sign of 'regression' or simply 'rage bait'. But many others have applauded the campaign, posting comments like 'woke is broke!' and 'culture shift!'. Conservative Republican senator Ted Cruz of Texas posted a photo of Sweeney on social media and wrote: 'Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women. I'm sure that will poll well.' Neither American Eagle nor the Emmy-nominated Sweeney, the 27-year-old actor best known for roles in the series The White Lotus and Euphoria, have publicly responded to the backlash.
South China Morning Post
02-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Meet Megan Stalter, star of Hacks and Too Much: besides the HBO Max hit, the TikTok-comedian-turned-actress and LGBT icon has also starred in Sabrina Carpenter's No Nonsense Christmas
Megan Stalter rose to fame after showcasing her natural comedy chops on social media, before landing a role in HBO Max's Hacks. Now, she's set to return to the screens with Lena Dunham 's highly anticipated new show, Too Much, which will premiere on Netflix on July 10. The cast of Too Much, Netflix's new series premiering on July 10. Photo: @megsstalter/Instagram The story follows the character of Jessica (played by Stalter) as she moves to London after a messy break-up and ends up meeting a musician called Felix (played by The White Lotus ' Will Sharpe). Advertisement Stalter, 34, has also starred in films like Star-Crossed and the TV shows including Queer as Folk. So, what else do we know about her? Megan Stalter was dubbed the 'queen of quarantine' on social media Megan Stalter starred in Sabrina Carpenter's Netflix special, A Nonsense Christmas. Photo: @megsstalter/Instagram One of Stalter's most recognisable moments might be her 2021 viral TikTok video featuring the now-iconic 'hi, gay' line. In the skit, she plays a woman trying to sell butter to the queer community during Pride Month. 'That video, I literally was rushing out the door,' she told The New Yorker. 'It was Pride Month, and I've just seen so many ads from places that would never normally do a Pride thing. It just was, like, something clicked – where it was, like, 'God, that would be so funny.'' Stalter's videos started to gain traction during the pandemic, which eventually earned her the title of 'queen of quarantine', per the same publication. She's always loved being on stage Megan Stalter posing for a shoot. Photo: @megsstalter/Instagram Stalter doesn't get stage fright.
South China Morning Post
26-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
5 of the most popular streaming series in 2025, from Severance to Reacher and White Lotus
We are halfway through 2025 and despite a few letdowns, like Season 2 of The Last of Us – and who knows what the final season of Squid Game has in store for us on June 27 – there have been a number of great shows that have generated a lot of buzz. From heartfelt family dramas and tales of growing up to a dystopian workplace sci-fi thriller, here are five top shows that have gained global popularity and received critical acclaim across different platforms this year. 1. When Life Gives You Tangerines (Netflix) Play Following the stories of various generations of characters from South Korea's Jeju Island, this moving drama weaves together coming-of-age experiences and life's challenges, all grounded in the island and South Korea's unique culture and setting. But at its heart, it's a universal story about how, despite our individual struggles, the timeless values of familial love and joy transcend hardship. Starring some of the biggest stars in South Korea, including IU and Park Bo-gum, the series has a 100 per cent critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 98 per cent audience rating. 2. The White Lotus: Season 3 (HBO Max) Play Mike White's The White Lotus series is loved for its satirical take on privilege, desire and human behaviour, all set against the backdrop of luxury resorts around the world.
