Latest news with #TheSydneyJean
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla mocks American Eagle's Sydney Sweeney ‘great jeans' ad amid controversy over alleged racist undertones
Tesla , led by CEO Elon Musk , took a cheeky jab at American Eagle 's advertising campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney , which has sparked a significant backlash over its controversial slogan and imagery. The electric carmaker posted a tongue-in-cheek comment on X (formerly Twitter), stating, 'Our seats robot also has great jeans,' alongside a video showcasing a robotic arm testing car seats, humorously paralleling American Eagle's focus on jeans. Controversy surrounding American Eagle's campaign American Eagle's fall 2025 denim campaign centers on the slogan 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' a pun playing on 'great genes,' referencing the actress's genetic traits. The campaign includes promotional videos where Sweeney discusses inherited genes affecting traits such as hair and eye color, with close-ups of her blue eyes and denim-clad figure. Critics argue that this messaging echoes language tied to historic and discredited eugenics ideologies, often associated with white supremacist groups, sparking accusations of racist and regressive undertones. The slogan was initially shown as 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes' on posters before 'Genes' was crossed out and replaced with 'Jeans'. The campaign's visual and verbal emphasis on Sweeney's blonde hair, blue eyes, and slim figure has drawn criticism for promoting narrow, traditional ideals of beauty, perceived by some as tone-deaf or insensitive in today's social climate. Social media reactions have ranged from accusations of endorsing white supremacy to dismissive views seen on the political right, which hailed it as a pushback against 'wokeness.' Despite controversy, American Eagle has not publicly responded to the backlash, and neither has Sweeney's representative. American Eagle's campaign impact American Eagle describes the campaign as a 'return to essential denim dressing' that celebrates their product's fit and appeal. Furthermore, 100 per cent of proceeds from the limited-edition jeans line known as 'The Sydney Jean' are donated to Crisis Text Line , a nonprofit mental health support organisation, highlighting a cause-oriented purpose behind the campaign. The brand continues to roll out the campaign amid ongoing debate, banking on star power to drive back-to-school season sales, a historically critical period for the retailer.
New York Post
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- New York Post
Tesla mocks American Eagle with cheeky jeans joke after Sydney Sweeney ad controversy erupts
As the woke mob melts down over American Eagle's ad campaign with Sydney Sweeney, Tesla jumped in with a joke. The carmaker, headed by Elon Musk, wrote: 'Our seats robot also has great jeans' in a tongue-in-cheek X post on Wednesday. It was posted alongside a video of a robotic arm performing automated durability testing on its car seats. Then, the company doubled down, writing 'Seatney' in a follow-up comment. American Eagle has not responded to FOX Business request for comment. It was a dig at the apparel company's 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' ad, which is described as 'a return to essential denim dressing and a celebration of what the beloved brand does best: making customers look and feel good in AE Jeans.' In the ad, which went viral, the 27-year-old actress is seen walking toward an AE billboard featuring her with a tagline: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes.' In the video, Sweeney crossed out 'Genes' and replaced it with 'Jeans' before walking away. 5 Sydney Sweeney poses in American Eagle jeans and denim jacket for her spot with American Eagle. American Eagle 5 Tesla's robot and a car set in the car company's dig at Sydney Sweeney. Tesla/X However, a growing number of critics slammed the 'Europhia' star's jeans ad campaign, saying it promoted racist and 'regressive' themes despite the proceeds of the jeans going towards a mental health support hotline. Some critics have claimed the tagline of Sweeney's ad is promoting 'eugenics movements.' The National Institutes of Health (NIH) described eugenics 'as the use of selective breeding to improve the human race.' 5 In the ad, which went viral, the 27-year-old actress is seen walking toward an AE billboard. American Eagle Some people on social media have said the fact that Sweeney has blue eyes and blonde hair is rubbing them the wrong way. 'It sounds like a white purity dog whistle, and that's why people are uncomfortable,' one critic posted on X. Seatney — Tesla (@Tesla) July 30, 2025 Others have pushed back on the criticism. Piers Morgan, in a tweet said, 'The Sydney Sweeney furor perfectly epitomizes why the woke left is so bonkers. 'They call everyone a Nazi or white supremacist, even when she's obviously neither, and they hate women celebrating beauty and sex appeal. It's why woke is dead — we all just laugh at their idiocy now.' The company's stock dropped as the backlash persisted. 5 Some people on social media have said the fact that Sweeney has blue eyes and blonde hair is rubbing them the wrong way. American Eagle 5 Some critics have claimed the tagline of Sweeney's ad is promoting 'eugenics movements.' American Eagle However, AE's website also noted that a butterfly motif on the back pocket of the jeans represents domestic violence awareness. It's a cause that Sweeney supports. 'In support of the cause, 100% of the purchase price from 'The Sydney Jean' will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering free, 24/7, confidential mental health support to anyone in need—just text 741741,' the site says. Despite the jeans promoting a good cause, online critics were fixated on the ad's alleged white supremacist undertones.
Buzz Feed
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Shocking Ad Campaigns That Sparked Outlash
Sometimes companies release ad campaigns that simply miss the mark. And while all businesses occasionally have bad ideas, a few of these ads have sparked public outrage after being deemed downright inappropriate or offensive... From teenage Brooke Shields's risqué Calvin Klein ads to Sydney Sweeney's recent American Eagle campaign, there are certain ads or commercials that have sparked backlash for being creepy, crass, or downright cringey. Without further ado, here are 11 times an advertisement massively backfired on a company: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans" (2025): In July 2025, American Eagle announced a partnership with Sydney Sweeney by releasing a series of ads focusing on her body. Despite the provocative nature of this campaign, the commercial that has encountered the most condemnation features the Euphoria star explaining, "Genes are passed down from parent to offspring, often determining traits like eye color, personality, and even hair color. My jeans are blue."While many claim that the ad is simply reminiscent of Brooke Shields's infamous 1980 Calvin Klein ad in which the 15-year-old discussed "selective mating," other social media users have pointed out that in today's political climate, the ad seems to use eugenicist language by showcasing a young, blonde-haired, blue-eyed white woman as the "pinnacle" of genetics, with some going so far as to deem it "Nazi propaganda."In one TikTok video, Sayantani DasGupta, a lecturer at Columbia University, noted that the campaign was 'really imbued with eugenic messaging' and that 'It is both a testament to this political moment, and it's contributing to and reinforcing this kind of anti-immigrant, anti-people of color, pro-eugenic political moment." Others have deemed the sexualization of Sweeney in the ads as particularly odd after American Eagle announced that a "A butterfly motif on the back pocket of the jean represents domestic violence awareness, which Sydney is passionate about. In support of the cause, 100% of the purchase price from 'The Sydney Jean' will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering free, 24/7, confidential mental health support to anyone in need." Kendall Jenner's "Jump In" Pepsi ad (2017): Pepsi, long known for its star-studded commercials, made a major misstep in the public eye on April 4, 2017, when the soda brand released its "Jump In" ad featuring Kendall ad depicted the model in the midst of a photoshoot when she notices a protest making its way down the street. The protestors hold signs that seem to signal a peaceful rally when the then-21-year-old decides to join them, fist bumping a fellow protester, and grabbing a Pepsi from an icy bucket. She then spots a police officer and hands him a Pepsi while a woman wearing a hijab looks on and photographs the climactic moment (which many critics noted was eerily similar to a well-publicized photo of protester Ieshia Evans standing in front of a police line during a protest against the police killing of a Black man in Baton Rouge).In a press statement released the day the ad went public, Pepsi stated that the commercial was part of its "Live For Now" campaign and "captures the spirit and actions of those people that jump in to every moment. It features multiple lives, stories, and emotional connections that show passion, joy, unbound and uninhibited moments." However, many critics accused the soda company of trivializing and belittling a significant equality movement for profit. Civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Bernice King spoke out by tweeting a photo of her late father being pushed backwards by a police line with the caption, "If only Daddy knew about the power of #Pepsi." "Peloton Wife" (2019): In 2019, Peloton faced backlash for alleged sexism after their holiday ad, titled "The Gift That Gives Back," featured a woman's husband gifting her a Peloton for the holiday season. The ad continued to show the woman documenting her fitness journey over the course of a year, and concluded with her showing her husband the footage the following year, while she states, "A year ago, I didn't realize how much this would change me."The criticism online was instantaneous, with tweets like "Nothing says 'maybe you should lose a few pounds' like gifting your already rail thin life partner a Peloton," and comedians, such as Eva Victor, making profanity-laden parodies. Many even noted that the "dystopian" ad was akin to a Black Mirror episode Within a few days, Peloton's stock had dropped 9% (at one point, the company lost $1.5 billion due to the backlash), and rumors spread about the commercial possibly being pulled from the air, however a company spokesperson told CNBC, 'We constantly hear from our members how their lives have been meaningfully and positively impacted after purchasing or being gifted a Peloton Bike or Tread, often in ways that surprise them. Our holiday spot was created to celebrate that fitness and wellness journey, while we're disappointed in how some have misinterpreted this commercial, we are encouraged by — and grateful for — the outpouring of support we've received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate." A few days later, Monica Ruiz, the actor who played the role dubbed "Peloton Wife," appeared on the Today show to share her reaction to the backlash: "Honestly, I think it was just my face. It was my fault. My eyebrows looked worried, I guess. People were like, 'She looked scared.'" She added that at the end of the day, "I hope people can remember that I'm not actually the 'Peloton lady' and let me work other jobs." Coca-Cola's AI-generated holiday ad (2024): In November 2024, Coca-Cola encountered backlash after releasing their holiday ad, which harkened back to their classic 1985 commercial titled "Holidays Are Coming." The 15-second 2024 commercial featured a fleet of iconically red trucks driving through a snowy and festive town to deliver Coca-Cola. In small print, the ad states: 'created by Real Magic AI.' The ad, which was meant to inspire nostalgia, rather invoked outrage from consumers and artists alike, with Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch commenting, 'FUN FACT: @CocaCola is 'red' because it's made from the blood of out-of-work artists! #HolidayFactz." However, this wasn't Coca-Cola's first usage of AI in advertisements. In 2023, the brand collaborated with OpenAI to release an AI-generated ad titled "Masterpiece" depicting iconic sculptures and paintings coming to life and sharing a bottle of soda. Carl's Jr. "All Natural" Super Bowl commercial (2015): In 2015, Carl's Jr. drew backlash for its "scandalous" 42-second Super Bowl commercial titled "All Natural." The ad featured model Charlotte McKinney walking through a farmers market, seemingly nude, having her body parts blocked by multiple items. It was not revealed until more than 30 seconds in that the commercial is about food.A conversation was sparked online, but it certainly wasn't about hamburgers. Some responded sarcastically, such as, "Just saw a preview of Carl's Jr. commercial for Super Bowl. Now I need a cigarette," while others pointed out the ad's objectification of women was "Setting feminism back four decades."The fast-food chain, however, was no stranger to using female celebs, such as Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum, and Kate Upton, for provocative ads in the past, so much so that it led social media users to create the hashtag #WomenAreMoreThanMeat. Lisa Granatstein, an Adweek editor, explained to Good Morning America that no matter what kind of response Carl's Jr. received to the commercial, all publicity was good publicity: "I think everyone knows what Carl's Jr. is all about. Those ads aren't going after women, they're going after men. They are not afraid of the controversy. The more controversy, the better. They get more clicks on YouTube, they get more social media. It's a win-win for them. I don't think they care one way or the other what women think about these ads." However, she did note that "A lot of advertisers have backed away from sexy, raunchy advertisements." Dove's model changing soap ad (2017): In 2017, Dove released a Facebook ad promoting body wash that showed a Black woman removing her shirt and becoming a white woman with red hair; the clip also showed the white woman removing her shirt to become another woman with dark three-second GIF drew outrage online, as many compared it to the advertisements of the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as one from the N.K. Fairbank Company, in which a white child asked a Black child, 'Why doesn't your mamma wash you with Fairy soap?' People pointed out that these ads of the past advertised that "dirty" blackness should be "cleansed" into whiteness by media users questioned how the commercial made it through multiple rounds of approval, making comments such as, "Dove marketing execs approving that racist ad." However, others noted that toward the end of the clip, the white woman did "become" someone else, writing, "The third woman is definitely not white but this was a bad deliverance of the message that all can use the soap." A few days later, Dove issued an official apology on Facebook, writing: "Dove is committed to representing the beauty of diversity. In an image we posted this week, we missed the mark in thoughtfully representing women of color and we deeply regret the offense that it has caused." Bic's "Look like a girl" Facebook post (2015): In August 2015, Bic drew ire from social media users for their Facebook message/ad for South Africa's National Women's Day that prompted women to: "Look like a girl. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a boss." Thousands expressed disgust online with feminist activist Caroline Criado-Perez tweeting, "What fresh hell is this' and 'srsly, 'think like a man'...*stabs eyes out with bic pen.*" The Sunday Times of Johannesburg reported that one commenter stated, "Look like a girl?' Because the infantilisation of women and the sexualisation of children is exactly the kind of blurred line we need!"This wasn't Bic's first time facing public outrage, as the company released pink "for her" pens in 2011 that were "designed to fit comfortably in a woman's hand." Ellen DeGeneres mocked the pens in a monologue, asking, 'They don't come with any instructions, so like, how do they expect us to learn how to write with them?' and making a spoof commercial where she instructed a young girl to 'write down a grocery list or even recipes for when you need to feed your man." Bic South Africa later apologized on Facebook for the Women's Day ad, noting that the quote was taken from a blog and was intended to be taken 'in the most empowering way possible and in no way derogatory towards women." Nivea's "White is purity" ad (2017): In 2017, German-based personal care company Nivea sparked backlash after posting a Facebook ad to promote their "Invisible for Black & White" deodorant, showing the back of a brown-haired, robe-clad woman overlaid with the words: "White is purity." The post caption stated, "Keep it clean, keep it bright. Don't let anything ruin it."The online backlash was immediate, with many claiming that the ad had overt tones of white supremacy, considering that the post was targeted at the brand's Middle Eastern following, writing, "Come on #Nivea. This is so racist that I do not even know where to begin. Speechless. In future, refer to clothes or products, not colors."The ad was also widely shared in alt-right online communities, with one account claiming: "#Nivea: the official moisturizer/anti-perspirant of the #AltRight."The ad was removed from the company's Facebook account after two days, and an apologetic statement was released: 'We are deeply sorry to anyone who may take offense to this specific post. Diversity and equal opportunity are crucial values of Nivea.'Speaking to the New York Times, a representative for the company explained that the campaign was targeted at Middle Eastern followers who would associate black with strength and white with purity. Popchips Ashton Kutcher as Raj commercial (2012): In 2012, Ashton Kutcher appeared in an ad for Popchips, where he appeared as four different people: a diva, a biker, a hippie, and a Bollywood producer, named Raj. Kutcher adopted an accent and appeared in brownface to play the character, who discusses his dating preferences, while making no reference to Popchips at any point. (At the time, the That '70s Show star was labeled as the brand's "president of pop culture.")Tech entrepreneur Anil Dash was a major critic, writing on his blog that the ad was "a hackneyed, unfunny advertisement featuring Kutcher in brownface talking about his romantic options, with the entire punchline being that he's doing it in a fake-Indian outfit and voice. That's it, there's seriously no other gag." He continued, "If you find yourself putting brown makeup on a white person in 2012 so they can do a bad 'funny' accent in order to sell potato chips, you are on the wrong course. Make some different decisions." Dash later noted that Keith Belling, CEO of Popchips, called him to extend a "sincere and contrite" apology. The ad was removed from the snack company's social media accounts, and a spokesperson issued an apology on the company's behalf, "The new Popchips worldwide dating parody featuring four characters was created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone. At Popchips we embrace all types of shapes, flavors and colors, and appreciate all snackers, no matter their race or ethnicity. We hope people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended." Burger King's "Women belong in the kitchen" tweet (2021): For International Women's Day in 2021, Burger King UK made a serious online blunder when they tweeted, "Women belong in the kitchen." Follow-up tweets announced that the statement was simply meant to grab users attention and promote the fast food chain's new scholarship, 'If they want to, of course. Yet only 20% of chefs are women. We're on a mission to change the gender ratio," and "We are proud to be launching a new scholarship programme which will help female Burger King employees pursue their culinary dreams."However, many social media users never made it past the sheer shock of seeing "Women belong in the kitchen" appear on their feed. With some writing, "Please don't use sexism as clickbait," and "There's better ways to draw attention to something that don't including using the most sexist trope ever."One commenter pointed out that the "sexist" tweet brought more publicity to the account, stating, "The engagement on your original tweet—which, again, is literally just a sexist trope—is 527% *higher* than the tweet announcing the scholarship program. Way more people are seeing you validate sexism on #InternationalWomensDay than are learning about your scholarship program."After spending the day issuing explanations, Burger King eventually removed the post and officially apologized, writing: "We hear you. We got our initial tweet wrong and we're sorry. Our aim was to draw attention to the fact that only 20% of professional chefs in UK kitchens are women and to help change that by awarding culinary scholarships. We will do better next time." Calvin Klein's Brooke Shields ad campaign (1980): When Brooke Shields's now-infamous Calvin Klein ad first aired in November 1980, it fueled a media frenzy. While there were many ads in the series shot by director Richard Avedon, the one that sparked the most backlash was when the then-15-year-old asked viewers, "Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing."That line scandalized American viewers, leading to the commercial being banned by ABC and CBS in New York, as well as other countries. In a 2021 Vogue interview, Shields recalled her reaction to the press's outrage, "I was away when they came out, and then I started hearing that the commercials were being banned. The paparazzi would scream at me and my mother, 'How could you!' It just struck me as so ridiculous.'The now-60-year-old noted that she never thought of the line as an innuendo, claiming, 'I didn't think it was about underwear or sexual in nature. I was naive. I think the assumption was that I was much more savvy than I ever really was. I was a virgin, and I was a virgin forever after that.' Despite the controversy, Shields maintains that she is still proud of the ad and its legacy, 'The controversy backfired. The campaign was extremely successful, and then the underwear overtook the jeans.'She doubled down on her support for the campaign in a March 2023 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, telling Colbert, "It was a phrase. It wasn't 'I'm not wearing underwear' or 'come' wasn't spelled differently, it was c-o-m-e, I was like, 'What's the problem?'" She proceeded to call the ensuing backlash "ludicrous." Can you think of any other ad campaigns that encountered backlash from the public? Tell us in the comments below!
The Province
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Province
American Eagle ad promoting Sydney Sweeney's ‘good jeans' slammed for racial undertones
Sydney Sweeney in denim jacket and jeans, lying on floor in American Eagle ad campaign. Photo by American Eagle / Instagram Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Sydney Sweeney's new denim-focused fall campaign for American Eagle has sparked backlash for the brand — and the actress — for alleged racial undertones. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors As part of the campaign, the retailer is launching 'The Sydney Jean,' a limited-run, wide-legged jean that was produced in collaboration with the Euphoria star, according to a press release. Sweeney, 27, is featured in an array of photos and videos, including one where she cleans off a large poster of herself, boasting a tagline that appears to be a pun about denim. The phrase initially said: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes,' before the last word is crossed out and replaced with 'Jeans.' That 'corrected' tagline, 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' appears in nearly every ad for the campaign. But for some, the ad isn't just a showcase of a gorgeous woman with spectacular assets in different styles of denim bottoms and tops. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The woke brigade have taken issue with the apparent subtext of the campaign and blasted it for what they claim is a lack of diversity, with many now calling out American Eagle and Sweeney for 'white supremacy' and 'Nazi propaganda' over the phrase 'great genes (jeans?).' 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour,' Sweeney said in one ad, before the camera pans up to her blue eyes. 'My jeans are blue.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Those who loathe the campaign see it as the promotion of eugenics and 'whiteness,' with haters criticizing Sweeney's appearance. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The collection, which features 'The Sydney Jean' and a limited-edition denim jacket, both display a butterfly motif representing domestic violence awareness. All revenue from its sales will be donated to the Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering free 24/7 mental health support, according to the campaign. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Sweeney's girl next door charm and main character energy — paired with her ability to not take herself too seriously — is the hallmark of this bold, playful campaign,' American Eagle wrote on its website last week. When American Eagle announced the collaboration with Sweeney, the company's stock went up, NBC News reported. But the backlash appears to have forced a shift, with American Eagle's most recent post showing a different, and apparently more ethnically acceptable model — with the same tagline. Read More 'Denim on denim on denim… on denim,' the brand wrote in the Instagram caption. 'AE has great jeans.' 'Does she have great jeans like Sydney Sweeney, too, or is this just damage control?' one person commented. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps Local News News GlobeNewswire
First Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle Ad Faces Criticism For "Nazi Propaganda" Firstpost America
Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle Ad Faces Criticism For "Nazi Propaganda" | Firstpost America | N18G American Eagle's new denim campaign starring Euphoria actor Sydney Sweeney is facing backlash for its controversial slogan, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans," a pun on "great genes." Critics say the campaign, which includes a line about eye colour and close-up shots of Sweeney's blue eyes, echoes language linked to Nazi propaganda and eugenics. The campaign promotes "The Sydney Jean," a limited-edition denim line, with proceeds benefiting mental health support. While American Eagle praises Sweeney's 'main character energy,' social media users have slammed the ad for a lack of diversity and poor messaging. Neither Sweeney nor the brand has responded. See More
