When American Eagle launched its “Great Jeans” campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, it expected viral traction — just not like this. The internet exploded over what many saw as more than a fashion ad. From the ad’s “great genes” copy to its lack of diversity, critics called out undertones of racial bias, eugenics-era language, and exclusionary beauty ideals.
In this episode of The UnWoke Show, we unpack the viral controversy that’s pitting corporate marketing against Gen Z social scrutiny. Why did the phrase “great genes” cause such outrage? Is it a case of overreaction — or are brands still failing to read the cultural room?
We explore:
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The double meaning behind “jeans” vs. “genes”
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Why Sydney Sweeney became the center of the storm
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The racial implications many say were impossible to ignore
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The debate over beauty standards, identity politics, and cancel culture
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What this says about woke capitalism, brand backlash, and cultural division in 2025
🔥 Buckle up for a no-holds-barred breakdown of how a denim ad turned into a culture war flashpoint.
Show Notes https://apnews.com/article/american-eagle-sydney-sweeney-jeans-race-aace9c73a52e982a7e832ad5ac507290 https://people.com/sydney-sweeney-american-eagle-ad-explained-11781702?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/07/sydney-sweeney-american-eagle-ads/683704/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/theunwokeshow.bsky.social
Podcast links
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https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-unwoke-show-309196
https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnWokeShow/videos?app=desktop
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