Sen. Ted Cruz intervened to support Sydney Sweeney after a wave of criticism was generated by an American Eagle commercial that featured the actress.
On July 29, the Republican from Texas expressed his support on X, formerly Twitter, denouncing what he called the “crazy Left” for disparaging Sweeney’s denim campaign. The advertisement, according to some critics, covertly exalted whiteness and supported eugenics.
Cruz wrote: Wow in response to a piece on the dispute in the New York Post. The insane Left has now openly attacked attractive women. That will undoubtedly poll favorably.
The campaign capitalized on the slogan “good genes” as part of a larger collaboration between American Eagle and Euphoriastar. The pun highlighted her physical attributes as well as the American Eagle denim trousers she was wearing.
However, worries started to surface online shortly after the ad launched. The wordplay, according to critics, conveyed unsettling messages about race, beauty standards, and ideas of genetic supremacy.
Cruz’s opinion wasn’t the only one. Others, such as music sensation Doja Cat and Bacheloralum Gabby Windey, also voiced their thoughts by mocking the advertisement in a TikTok video.
Sydney Sweeney, an American Eagle ad campaign and why it sparked backlash
The statement, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color,” is made by Sweeney in a complete denim outfit during one of the campaign’s segments.
As the camera records her blue jeans and corresponding blue eyes, she says, “My jeans are blue.”
Some people found the advertisement’s antiquated vibe—a seductive blonde in denim that appealed to the masculine gaze—to be archaic and backward.
How far do you intend to go back? Would you like to cast a ballot? One viewer left a comment. Sweeney was directly challenged by another: You accept these jobs that objectify your body. Don’t join the patriarchy; fight it.
However, the way the advertisement referenced the idea of good genes raised deeper concerns for some.
The unsettling legacy of eugenics, a pseudoscientific movement that promoted selective breeding in an effort to advance humankind, was cited by critics. Eugenics has a long history of being exploited as an excuse for forced sterilizations and racial atrocities. Critics claimed that portraying Sweeney as the epitome of good genes mimicked that traumatic history.
The fact that the advertisement is from the American Eagle brand only serves to complicate things further. Americana and denim are closely related, representing everything from a mythical sense of national identity to tough individuality. For some, those layers added even more weight to the advertisement’s message.
