The UnWoke Show Season 3 Episode 121: “Beauty, Branding & Backlash: Inside the American Eagle ‘Genes’ Ad”

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:

• The double meaning behind “jeans” vs. “genes”

• Why Sydney Sweeney became the center of the storm

• The racial implications many say were impossible to ignore

• The debate over beauty standards, identity politics, and cancel culture

• 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://x.com/UnWokeTheShow

https://bsky.app/profile/theunwokeshow.bsky.social

 

Podcast links

https://theunwokeshow.podbean.com/

https://open.spotify.com/show/27rkGZYhccSF8stUzzGxaI

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unwoke-show/id1686015698

https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-unwoke-show-309196

https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnWokeShow/videos?app=desktop

 

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