Doja Cat nocks Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle Ad, rekindles 'Genes vs. Jeans' controversy
Doja Cat has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s latest campaign with American Eagle, using satire to highlight growing criticism of the ad.
Sydney Sweeney stars in American Eagle’s fall 2025 campaign.
Doja Cat's viral TikTok mocking Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad revives debate over the campaign’s messaging and social media backlash.
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In a TikTok posted earlier this week, the performer mimics a line from the commercial—“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue”—delivered in an exaggerated rural accent. The video quickly went viral, amassing close to 10 million views.
Sweeney’s ad has drawn attention for its play on words, using “genes” and “jeans” interchangeably. While some viewers have taken it as a lighthearted pun, others see a deeper, more troubling message.
Critics on TikTok claim the campaign subtly references ideas tied to genetic purity, pointing to Sweeney’s blonde hair and blue eyes as intentional visual cues. One user described the ad as “a racialized dog whistle,” a claim echoed in a video that has reached over 1.4 million views.
Courtesy of American Eagle
On the other side, many social media users argue the backlash is an overreaction. Several have dismissed the controversy as an example of internet culture reading too far into a marketing gimmick. “Y’all are mad at Sydney Sweeney because she’s white, she’s blonde, she’s blue-eyed and she looks good,” one TikTok creator said. “The hate is exhausting,” another added.
Neither Sweeney nor American Eagle has responded publicly to the discussion.
Sweeney remains one of the most in-demand young stars in Hollywood. After gaining recognition for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, she has continued to book high-profile projects, including Anyone But You, Reality, Madame Web, Immaculate, and Echo Valley opposite Julianne Moore. Upcoming roles include Americana with Halsey and The Housemaid with Amanda Seyfried, along with a biopic about boxer Christy Martin.
In addition to acting, Sweeney has become a prominent face in advertising. She recently partnered with brands such as Armani Beauty, Laneige, Miu Miu, HeyDude, Ford, and Baskin-Robbins, which has now disabled comments on its TikTok videos featuring the actress. She also collaborated with Dr. Squatch earlier this year on a soap made with water she had bathed in. A lingerie line backed by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez is reportedly in development.
