Doja Cat has jumped into the conversation surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle “Great Genes” ad, with her viral TikTok parodying the campaign.
The “Great Genes” Ad Controversy
Last week, American Eagle launched a new denim campaign featuring actor Sydney Sweeney. The ad sparked immediate backlash for its use of wordplay between “jeans” and “genes.” In the commercial, Sweeney states, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring… My jeans are blue,” while the camera focuses on her blonde hair and blue eyes.
Despite its polished look, the internet quickly condemned the ad. Many critics labeled it a “racial dog whistle” and some even compared its language to unsettling historical propaganda from the 1930s, citing concerns about pseudoscientific language of racial superiority.
Doja Cat’s Viral Mockery
On July 29, Doja Cat posted a TikTok video directly mocking Sweeney’s script. She delivered the now-infamous lines, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue,” using an exaggerated Southern accent and a sneering, sarcastic tone.
Her performance, which left the script unchanged but parodied the delivery, quickly went viral. Fans and critics alike appreciated her take on the widely criticized advertisement.
American Eagle’s Response and Sweeney’s Past Ads
Following the extensive backlash, American Eagle quietly removed the “great genes” line from newer versions of the ad. The brand has not issued a formal statement regarding the controversy. However, American Eagle announced they would donate all proceeds from the “Sydney Jean” to Crisis Text Line, a mental health nonprofit, in an effort to create a positive impact from the campaign.
This isn’t the first time Sydney Sweeney has faced criticism over her ad partnerships. In June, she received flak for a collaboration with Dr. Squatch, a soap brand. The controversial promotion claimed the soap bar contained water from her actual bath, which critics found anti-feminist and peculiar.
A Calculated Move?
Some advertising experts suggest that controversy, even negative, can be a deliberate strategy to cut through the noise and generate buzz, much like the infamous Brooke Shields Calvin Klein campaign in 1980. For Doja Cat, her viral TikTok could also be a strategic move to maintain public interest as she prepares for the release of her new album, “Vie.”
“Vie” is her first album since 2023’s “Scarlet” and is described as a pop-heavy record with production nearing completion.
- Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad sparked controversy for its “genes” vs. “jeans” wordplay.
- Critics called the ad a “racial dog whistle” and compared its language to historical propaganda.
- Doja Cat’s viral TikTok mocked the ad with an exaggerated, sarcastic delivery.
- American Eagle quietly removed the controversial line and is donating “Sydney Jean” proceeds to a mental health nonprofit.
- Sydney Sweeney has faced previous ad controversies, including a Dr. Squatch soap collaboration.
The incident highlights the swift and powerful impact of public opinion and social media on brand campaigns and celebrity endorsements.
The user wants me to rewrite a news article about Doja Cat mocking Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad. I need to ensure it’s mobile-first, high-engagement, structured, readable, and SEO-friendly.
Here’s a plan:
1. **Introductory paragraph:** A one-line summary.
2. **Section 1: The Ad Controversy:** Explain the problematic “genes” vs. “jeans” wordplay and the backlash it received (racial dog whistle, historical comparisons).
3. **Section 2: Doja Cat’s Viral Take:** Describe Doja Cat’s TikTok video, her exaggerated delivery, and its impact.
4. **Section 3: Why the Outcry?** Elaborate on the deeper implications of the “genes” rhetoric.
5. **Section 4: American Eagle’s Response:** Detail how the brand reacted (quietly removed the line, donation).
6. **Section 5: Not Sweeney’s First Rodeo:** Briefly mention Sydney Sweeney’s past ad controversies (Dr. Squatch).
7. **Section 6: Is It All Promotion?** Briefly touch on Doja Cat’s upcoming album as a potential motive for her viral content.
8. **Key Takeaways (Optional):** A bulleted list of main points.
9. **Closing remark:** A brief concluding sentence.
Constraints Checklist & Confidence Score:
1. Short intro paragraph: Yes
2. Multiple section headings (h2/h3): Yes
3. Clear, conversational tone: Yes
4. Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences): Yes
5. Optional key takeaways list: Yes
6. Fully HTML-formatted output: Yes
7. Length 300-600 words: Will monitor during generation.
8. No title/h1: Yes
9. No emojis: Yes
10. No asterisks/markdown: Yes
Confidence Score: 5/5
Mental Sandbox:
* I’ll make sure to attribute strong claims like “Nazi propaganda” to “critics” or “some commentators” rather than stating them as fact.
* The article includes a Twitter embed and internal links; these will be omitted.
* Keep sentences punchy and engaging for a mobile audience.
* The word count needs to be carefully managed. I’ll aim for clarity and conciseness to stay within the range.
Final check on flow and content. The plan seems comprehensive and adheres to all rules.
Doja Cat has jumped into the conversation surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle “Great Genes” ad, with her viral TikTok parodying the campaign.
The “Great Genes” Ad Controversy
Last week, American Eagle launched a new denim campaign featuring actor Sydney Sweeney. The ad sparked immediate backlash for its use of wordplay between “jeans” and “genes.” In the commercial, Sweeney states, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring… My jeans are blue,” while the camera focuses on her blonde hair and blue eyes.
Despite its polished look, the internet quickly condemned the ad. Many critics labeled it a “racial dog whistle” and some even compared its language to unsettling historical propaganda from the 1930s, citing concerns about pseudoscientific language of racial superiority.
Doja Cat’s Viral Mockery
On July 29, Doja Cat posted a TikTok video directly mocking Sweeney’s script. She delivered the now-infamous lines, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue,” using an exaggerated Southern accent and a sneering, sarcastic tone.
Her performance, which left the script unchanged but parodied the delivery, quickly went viral. Fans and critics alike appreciated her take on the widely criticized advertisement.
American Eagle’s Response and Sweeney’s Past Ads
Following the extensive backlash, American Eagle quietly removed the “great genes” line from newer versions of the ad. The brand has not issued a formal statement regarding the controversy. However, American Eagle announced they would donate all proceeds from the “Sydney Jean” to Crisis Text Line, a mental health nonprofit, in an effort to create a positive impact from the campaign.
This isn’t the first time Sydney Sweeney has faced criticism over her ad partnerships. In June, she received flak for a collaboration with Dr. Squatch, a soap brand. The controversial promotion claimed the soap bar contained water from her actual bath, which critics found anti-feminist and peculiar.
A Calculated Move?
Some advertising experts suggest that controversy, even negative, can be a deliberate strategy to cut through the noise and generate buzz, much like the infamous Brooke Shields Calvin Klein campaign in 1980. For Doja Cat, her viral TikTok could also be a strategic move to maintain public interest as she prepares for the release of her new album, “Vie.”
“Vie” is her first album since 2023’s “Scarlet” and is described as a pop-heavy record with production nearing completion.
- Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad sparked controversy for its “genes” vs. “jeans” wordplay.
- Critics called the ad a “racial dog whistle” and compared its language to historical propaganda.
- Doja Cat’s viral TikTok mocked the ad with an exaggerated, sarcastic delivery.
- American Eagle quietly removed the controversial line and is donating “Sydney Jean” proceeds to a mental health nonprofit.
- Sydney Sweeney has faced previous ad controversies, including a Dr. Squatch soap collaboration.
The incident highlights the swift and powerful impact of public opinion and social media on brand campaigns and celebrity endorsements.
