Joshie 748 Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 (edited) I’m sorry, I think this is a pretty clever ad. But yeah this uproar is exactly why they keep winning. Reactions like this push centrists to the right and left leaning to the center. The only criticism I have is that they should’ve got a diverse group of people to do an ad with the same line promoting different colour jeans based on eye colour, perhaps that would’ve prevented this backlash. There are bigger issues in life right now than the promotion of blue jeans in an advert. Edited August 2 by Joshie 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrawberryBlond 14,881 Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 For those who don't know, this seems to be a reference to (though, to be frank, it's a full-on rip off) of the Calvin Klein jeans ad that Brooke Shields did in 1980 when she was just 15. It was very controversial at the time for how sexualised these ads were: As you can see, the whole idea is a pretty girl talking about a biological concept that is normally considered boring but she makes it interesting by corresponding what she's doing and the jeans themselves with the process she's talking about and gradually gets more appealing as the ad progresses. It was very cleverly done, especially with the suggestions that other jean brands fade away but some stick around because they're superior and some jeans evolve. Here the suggestion is not race but just good jeans and good looks. It shouldn't have been done with an underage girl but you get what the ad was doing. The Sydney ad where she's explaining genetics is extremely similar to the point of plagiarism. That's clearly what's being done here. She also did this one which became one of the most famous taglines of 80's ads, a time that was all about the sexualised pun. Even the narrator has a similar voice to the Sydney ad: The ad where Sydney is introducing herself like a casting call and getting told to turn this way and that could also be a reference to these extremely creepy Calvin Klein ads from the 90's which were also very controversial for how they sexualised young models in very suggestible ways: Odd that American Eagle wants to reference the work of another brand but clearly, they were inspired by the same sexualised, controversial marketing. The pun of "good genes/jeans" has been done before, it's a classic thing actually. When most people say they have good genes, they're not talking about race, they're talking about how they stay looking so young or why they don't suffer with acne. It's not just a white-specific ideal either, "good black don't crack" is a prevailing phrase even today. It's definitely a reference to looking young and hot, that's it. She even says "my jeans are blue," meaning there's a double meaning of having the genetic code for blue eyes as it focuses on her eyes at that point. "Genes" can't be blue but "jeans" can be, so it's just a pun. Of course it can be totally misread in today's world and possibly, even the marketers could be aware of this but understand it would never be interpreted this way back in the day. I heard a joke that went: "Diarrhoea is genetic. It runs in your jeans." The ad does the same pun. It's an attempt to create a catchy phrase that people will repeat or even parody as it sticks in your mind. And it will definitely work with a celebrity whose entire image has been looking young and hot. The ad always focuses on a part of her body when it says the line. Most notably, she runs her hands down her backside just before the good jeans comment, so there's no race connection there, just telling us to look at her body and the way the jeans hug them. It's just classic "sex sells" marketing. You can totally imagine a horny teenager saying: "I'd like to get into her jeans" afterwards. I'm totally with everyone who says that they could extend this ad with models of different races however I think Sydney was the only celebrity booked for this role, as is the case with celebrity endorsements. It would actually be really cool if they extended it to different races, as it's good to show that a clothing brand is for everyone. the message still holds regardless of the race of the person as everyone has genes and the pun would definitely be clearer. I hope American Eagle don't lean into this whole thing as a "all publicity is good publicity" idea as that will be a really bad look for them. I do hope they meant nothing bad by this. In any event, we should focus on the real world implications of racist beliefs right now as a jeans ad isn't what's influencing atrocities. This is what people are talking about when we say that celebrities provide a distraction to the bigger stuff that's really going on. And racists have always misinterpreted stuff deliberately to suit their agenda anyway, whether this ad exists or not. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axl Jax 596 Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 On 7/31/2025 at 7:17 PM, Morphine Prince said: I’d recommend seeing it just for the pure comedy. If these were different times I’d say, ok I get it. But when fascism in the US is rising and racist ideology making a comeback an ad like this rubs the wrong way. As someone who lives in an area with a lot of right-wing and far-right people (neighbours etc and some family members who i unfortunately have to spend time and have conversations with), a big part of the rise of the far-right is because of things like this (the backlash), people see things as the 'far left going too far' so they feel like they have to raise their own voice to be louder. I've seen it from a range of different things, from antifa/black lives matter protests during covid and how that was seen as fine compared to other protests like the anti-lockdown protests (as the former was more left-wing and the latter right-wing), to the self-identifying thing here in the UK which has led to new laws around public toilets, etc. Not saying it's right, but that's how a lot of people think. personally I think this is a bit of a reach and will feed into that, but I do see peoples' point, especially over in the US with how it is right now 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphine Prince 106,188 Posted August 3 Author Share Posted August 3 (edited) 21 hours ago, Joshie said: I’m sorry, I think this is a pretty clever ad. But yeah this uproar is exactly why they keep winning. Reactions like this push centrists to the right and left leaning to the center. It's funny how people love to say "don't react because it will push people to the right!" Yet these same people aren't being pushed to the left by more important issues such as: If you are being "pushed to the right" because of people's reactions you were more than likely already on the right. Edited August 3 by Morphine Prince 6 1 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsleepOnTheCeiling 6,417 Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 22 hours ago, Joshie said: I’m sorry, I think this is a pretty clever ad. But yeah this uproar is exactly why they keep winning. Reactions like this push centrists to the right and left leaning to the center. The only criticism I have is that they should’ve got a diverse group of people to do an ad with the same line promoting different colour jeans based on eye colour, perhaps that would’ve prevented this backlash. There are bigger issues in life right now than the promotion of blue jeans in an advert. Please. America to this day touts and brags on their effective propaganda in getting the public to support US involvement in WW2. This is MIDDLE SCHOOL history. Propaganda isn't just "they're poisoning the water". And that's before even mentioning the Dunkin ad seemingly randomly also mentioning genetics while featuring a white blue eyed brown haired person. It's propaganda, not an ad. Everything in an ad from a multi-billion dollar company is intentional and carefully chosen. Marketing teams know what colors do well to make viewers feel a certain way. They know the fonts to use. There's a psychology to all of it. On 8/1/2025 at 10:22 AM, lastpopicon said: Not only they rehabilitated them, they put them in high power positions, especially Wernher von Braun, the very foundations of nasa are built upon him, makes you think. But let's stop the off-topic cause there's a lot more to talk about __ About the ad, their goal was achieved, Despite the criticism — or perhaps driven by it — the financial impact of the campaign was notable. According to Vanity Fair, American Eagle sales have increased by 10% since the launch of advertising, with revenue of around 200 million dollars (around 174 million euros). I think we are just easy to predict ngl, it's like free money for companies atp All the fortune 500 companies right now: write that eagle ad down! I don't see AE coming out on top in the end. I truly believe and hope that the American people will see what's going on and wake up. I hope in my heart this happens before a mass genocide. But it will happen. And then AE will be done. On 8/1/2025 at 7:20 AM, Roughhouse Dandy said: Mkay, sure. Since its just puns let's let it all go unchecked until everyone is used to hearing weird race theory lingo and overt white supremacist declarations calling for ethnic cleansing start sounding like normal conversation. Exactly this. We've sexualized ourselves for social media the past decade. Look at how our culture shifted from this. The impact the Kardashians have had, the music that got popular talking about popping pvssy, the normalization of objectification. And people think this won't happen with racism. We've already seen it happen. 10 years ago you'd get your ass beat at school for calling someone the N word, BY THE COUNTRY HICKS. Nowadays it's edgy to say it, and you'll get a GoFundMe that raises $10k+ On 7/31/2025 at 5:08 PM, ****oDanceFight said: The willful ignorance (and frankly, racism) in this thread…I’d laugh if it didn’t prove how mainstream anti-intellectualism (as well as media illiteracy) has become Using a white, blonde, blue eyed person to flaunt their “genes” for a jean ad is at best a racist troll marketing gimmick and at worst a full fledged Nazi dogwhistle. Did no one ever study Nazi propaganda or Eurocentrism at school? Has no one studied how white people have been historically depicted in advertisements compared to other groups? If users here can attribute Morgan Wallen and other milquetoast artist’s mainstream success to the rise in Trumpism/global conservatism, then I know you have the cognitive ability to connect the eugenics subtext of this ad to our current sociopolitical moment. This ad wouldn’t be a problem if it featured women of different ethnicities. The fact that AE purposefully chose Sydney Sweeney, whose success/allure has also been attributed to the resurgence of hard right conservative values, to stir up debate proves that the campaign is working and that there are no consequences for being a racist troll at best or a Nazi at worst. This very debate is a flashpoint moment that exemplifies how far right our culture has become and how we’ve normalized such attitudes. It's because they think it's not happening if they don't flat out see it and nobody thinks they could be dumb enough to not see (Nazi) it. But it's pretty obvious when Republicans pick it up the way they have. On 7/31/2025 at 6:16 PM, Nagini said: Honestly it's a stupid little ad about her being attractive. I don't think the brand ever thought there would debate about Nazism..... but I get the criticism once you put everything together especially considering the campaign quote and "American Eagle" brand. So you think Sydney Sweeney's camp didn't see it? Her PR didn't see it? AEs marketing firm didn't see it? Their head of marketing didn't? Their CEO didn't? EVERYTHING in an ad is planned to a T. It's psychology, every marketer that has a degree knows exactly how and where to place everything and everyone. They know what words to use. They know the font and music to use. The colors to use. Stores are laid out to maximize your spending. Websites are designed to add to a cart and not notice the price. Items are $9.99 because it looks better than $10. Shipping is built into the price of products. They knew EXACTLY what this ad was going to do. And coincidentally Dunkin released a similar ad within a week. Both featuring MAGA celebrities? No, they knew. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladle Ghoulash 25,135 Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 22 hours ago, Joshie said: I’m sorry, I think this is a pretty clever ad. But yeah this uproar is exactly why they keep winning. Reactions like this push centrists to the right and left leaning to the center. The only criticism I have is that they should’ve got a diverse group of people to do an ad with the same line promoting different colour jeans based on eye colour, perhaps that would’ve prevented this backlash. There are bigger issues in life right now than the promotion of blue jeans in an advert. Ngl I’ve never bought this theory that “leftist uproar” really moves people to the right lmao We have forgotten our public MANNERS 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpmMonkey 5,989 Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 2 hours ago, Morphine Prince said: It's funny how people love to say "don't react because it will push people to the right!" Yet these same people aren't being pushed to the left by more important issues such as: If you are being "pushed to the right" because of people's reactions you were more than likely already on the right. I was just about to say the same after reading comment after comment justifying a dog whistling eugenic add that's now praised by republicans, because they finally have a "good ol gurl" in their midst to project their antiquated image of a modern woman on to. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco 11,708 Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 1 hour ago, Ladle Ghoulash said: Ngl I’ve never bought this theory that “leftist uproar” really moves people to the right lmao I don't think it pushes people to the right. I think it pushes people to become vocal about supporting the right which they did already. It makes them take the mask off with or without even realising it. Look at this thread 3 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
50 Ft Queenie 368 Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 On 8/2/2025 at 3:37 AM, ALGAYDO said: The way some of yall are so very obviously being purposely obtuse to this issues really just shows how there’s so many closeted racists casually walking amongst us lol crazy work but yall just keep showing them true colors Free Palestine 🍉 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphine Prince 106,188 Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 Donald Trump praises Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad after a reporter tells him she’s a Republican: “I’m glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.” 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollorowling 447 Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 I am often so glad to be a third world citizen and to be far from all these problems 😄 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roughhouse Dandy 11,567 Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 1 hour ago, Morphine Prince said: Donald Trump praises Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad after a reporter tells him she’s a Republican: “I’m glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.” What a stupid c*nt lmao I hate that sleazeball so much This is my Hannah Montana™️ lipgloss. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PartySick 160,599 Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 21 hours ago, Morphine Prince said: It's funny how people love to say "don't react because it will push people to the right!" Yet these same people aren't being pushed to the left by more important issues such as: If you are being "pushed to the right" because of people's reactions you were more than likely already on the right. F*cking all of this If some randos online sideying a jeans commercial makes you vote for a nazi then you were always a f*cking nazi. Nobody pushed you to that point. You're stinky 1 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandyFinest 36 Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 It is really funny considering that so much of what she acts in is liberal or at the very least is anti conservative Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gagaism 11,883 Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 8 hours ago, apollorowling said: I am often so glad to be a third world citizen and to be far from all these problems 😄 I’m confused about “third world” but assuming that you’re possibly talking about a third country you’re actually closer to the problem that you think. It’s a domino effect that will always affect any country really bad in a later time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.