Jeans or Genes? American Eagle's Controversial Campaign Sparks Debate
American Eagle Outfitters faces backlash over its denim ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney, sparking debate over race and beauty standards. Critics are concerned about the ad's play on words, while others dismiss the controversy. Despite criticism, marketing experts suggest the campaign's buzz could be beneficial.
American Eagle Outfitters, a prominent teen retailer, has come under fire following the release of a new denim ad campaign featuring 27-year-old actor Sydney Sweeney. The campaign has drawn criticism for allegedly perpetuating issues related to race and Western beauty standards, despite the company asserting the focus was solely on promoting their jeans.
The retailer addressed the controversy on their Instagram, maintaining that the campaign is about celebrating individual stories and the confidence that comes with wearing AE jeans. This marks the company's first response to the backlash since the campaign, highlighting Sweeney's purportedly 'great jeans,' went public last week.
The campaign's ambiguous wordplay, using 'genes' instead of 'jeans,' has sparked heated debates, with some critics associating it with eugenics. Meanwhile, others argue that the negative reactions are overblown, suggesting that the sustained attention, even if controversial, is advantageous for marketing.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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