Are Sydney Sweeney’s ‘blue genes’ too white for the internet?
While some have criticised the campaign for its racial undertones, others have applauded it as a sign that ‘woke is broke’
Some social media users are outraged, saying the wordplay of the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”, coupled with the actor’s blue eyes and blonde hair, has racial undertones. Others are praising the campaign as lacking “woke” politics.
“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My genes are blue,” Sweeney, wearing denim on denim, says in one video.
People across social media have levelled criticism spanning the gamut, with some saying the campaign promotes “white supremacy” and “eugenics”, while others have called it “sterile”, a sign of “regression” or simply “rage bait”.
But many others have applauded the campaign, posting comments like “woke is broke!” and “culture shift!”.
Conservative Republican senator Ted Cruz of Texas posted a photo of Sweeney on social media and wrote: “Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women. I’m sure that will poll well.”
Neither American Eagle nor the Emmy-nominated Sweeney, the 27-year-old actor best known for roles in the series The White Lotus and Euphoria, have publicly responded to the backlash.