Doja Cat has gracefully descended upon the chat, stirring up quite a storm with a TikTok post on Monday evening. The multitalented artist mocked Sydney Sweeney's dialogue delivery in a fresh jeans commercial for American Eagle, a campaign that has sparked a maelstrom of online debates.
Reciting in an exaggerated, backwoods-style accent, Doja Cat’s viral clip now echoes with the words, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue." As of this writing, the clip has amassed nearly 10 million views.
This snippet has fueled the online discourse surrounding the campaign, which has found a fervent following on TikTok. Countless creators have weighed in, pondering if it's merely a harmless, playful word game between "great genes" and "great jeans," or if the advertisement harbors some covert, sinister undertones.
Given Sweeney's blonde hair and blue eyes, some users have claimed that the ad covertly promotes eugenics or subtly nods to Nazi propaganda. "It stands as one of the loudest and most obvious racialized dog whistles we've witnessed in recent times," alleged a TikTok user with 400 followers, who has posted multiple videos on the subject, one of which garnered 1.4 million views.
Numerous others have brushed aside the backlash, dismissing it as feigned outrage from a generation overly immersed in the online world, eagerly seeking offense where none truly exists. "The hate is exhausting," wrote a TikTok user in the comments section of a video posted by LaKeisha Hebert, who shared, "You're mad at Sydney Sweeney because she's white, blonde, blue-eyed, and looks stunning. I'm DEI'd out."
American Eagle and Sweeney have remained silent on the matter. Sweeney continues to shine as one of Hollywood's most sought-after stars. After capturing hearts in "Euphoria," she went on to star in "The White Lotus," opposite Glen Powell in "Anyone But You," "Madame Web," and "Eden." She garnered praise for her performances in "Reality" and "Immaculate," and recently starred alongside Julianne Moore in "Echo Valley." Upcoming projects include "Americana" with Halsey, "The Housemaid" with Amanda Seyfried, and portraying boxer Christy Martin in "Christy."
In the realm of brand deals, Sweeney has been hustling just as hard, with some campaigns, like the American Eagle one, stirring controversy. Earlier this summer, she sold her literal bathwater as part of a soap formula for Dr. Squatch. She also boasts collaborations with Armani Beauty, Miu Miu, Laneige, HeyDude, Bai, Baskin Robbins, and Ford. Reports suggest she's launching a lingerie brand backed by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. Amidst the American Eagle furor, it appears that Sweeney's brand partner, Baskin-Robbins, has disabled comments on TikTok posts featuring the actress.
