According to a new American Eagle ad, Sydney Sweeney has some 'great genes'.
Videos by Wide Open Country
And we can all be honest with each other, she definitely isn't hard to look at. Beyond that, she also clearly has some drive, considering she's an incredibly famous actress. So her genes certainly aren't terrible.
Plus, as someone who likes to make a living off of writing puns or similes, this ad is hardly a crime:
Jeans Are Very Different Than Genes
Ultimately, I am but a man. A man whose opinions are not very valued in today's day and age. But luckily, the internet has a million opinions, so we can just talk about those!
We can start off with this Instagram opinion: "This is what happens when you have no people of color in a room. Particularly in a time like this, this ad campaign got so caught up in this 'clever' play on words and this stunt the people in the room missed what was so blatantly obvious to anyone not White."
That commentor was not alone, another one posted, "It's giving 'Subtle 1930's Germany'".
And just like that, American Eagle found itself swirling in controversy.
People on both sides of the above Sydney Sweeney jeans ad took to the comments and yelled at each other. (Which, by the way, kind of helps the brand increase its popularity.)
What's Wrong With The Wording?
Well, according to a Salon report, the phrase 'great genes' is pretty synonymous with hate. The report reads that the phrase is often used to "celebrate whiteness, thinness and attractiveness".
(I think it's also worth noting that this source then called the ad a "tone-deaf marketing move". So, not exactly unbiased.)
But, there is a sort of truth that rings home there. I mean, look at the rhetoric surrounding pre-Nazi and nazi Germany. Or if that's an overused example, then look at imperialist Japan. Both parties argued that they had superior genes. Which is how they morally justified their horrendous acts.
Now, did the American Eagle team think through all of this when they partnered with Sydney Sweeney? Did they connect genes to 'superior races' on purpose? I'm willing to bet $10,000 that they weren't.
And I feel like the internet might need to understand that fact, too.
