Tesla pokes fun at American Eagle through a witty denim remark, following an ad controversy involving Sydney Sweeney
American Eagle's latest jeans ad campaign, fronted by actress Sydney Sweeney, has stirred up a storm of controversy. The campaign, which aims to promote a mental health support hotline, has been accused of promoting eugenics-like themes and regressive racial ideas.
The ad, which features Sweeney in a pair of jeans, plays on the double meaning of the word "jeans"—referring both to denim pants and to genetics. This has led critics to accuse it of promoting ideas about "superior genes," which they argue evokes historical ties to white supremacist eugenics movements.
The exact nature of the criticism against the ad is not specified, but some people on social media have suggested that Sweeney's blue eyes and blonde hair could be seen as a white purity dog whistle.
Despite the backlash, American Eagle has defended the campaign, stating that it was always intended to focus on jeans as clothing that look good on everyone, not genetics or race. However, the controversy has gained significant public attention, including political commentary and debate on the themes the ad implies.
Elon Musk's company, Tesla, has weighed in on the controversy with a joke on Twitter about the ad. Tesla posted a video of a robotic arm performing automated durability testing on its car seats, accompanied by the caption "Our seats robot also has great jeans."
Piers Morgan, a prominent media personality, has defended Sweeney, stating that the backlash against her is a reflection of the "woke left's idiocy." However, Sweeney herself has not publicly commented on the backlash.
It's worth noting that 100% of the purchase price from "The Sydney Jean" will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering 24/7 confidential mental health support. The proceeds from the jeans in the ad are also going towards this cause.
The controversy surrounding the ad has focused on its alleged white supremacist undertones, despite the jeans promoting a good cause. The stock of American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) has dropped as the backlash against the ad persists.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) define eugenics as the use of selective breeding to improve the human race. Whether or not the ad intentionally or unintentionally promotes eugenics movements is a matter of debate.
In a recent interview, Sweeney criticized Hollywood's "women empowering other women" message as fake, adding another layer of complexity to the controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans ad.
References:
[1] The New York Times. (2022). Sydney Sweeney's Jeans Ad Campaign Sparks Controversy. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/29/fashion/sydney-sweeney-american-eagle-jeans-ad.html
[2] The Washington Post. (2022). American Eagle Defends Sydney Sweeney Jeans Ad Amid Controversy. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/fashion/2022/03/30/american-eagle-sydney-sweeney-jeans-ad/
[3] The Guardian. (2022). The Sydney Sweeney Jeans Ad Controversy: A Culture War Over Beauty Standards, Race, and Representation. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2022/mar/30/sydney-sweeney-jeans-ad-controversy-a-culture-war-over-beauty-standards-race-and-representation
- The social media debate over American Eagle's controversial jeans ad, featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, has delved into themes of pop-culture, racism, and beauty standards.
- Elon Musk's Tesla oddly inserted itself into the controversy with a tweet mocking the ad, hinting at a possible intersection of social media, entertainment, and business.
