Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Doja Cat’s TikTok parody humorously highlights the controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad.
- The ad faced significant backlash for promoting narrow beauty standards and implied eugenic concepts.
- American Eagle withdrew the campaign, illustrating the power of social media to influence brand decisions.
- This incident underscores ongoing cultural shifts around diversity, representation, and authenticity in advertising.
- Celebrities like Doja Cat leverage viral moments to shape public discourse on societal issues.
Table of Contents
What Happened?
Sydney Sweeney, known for her role in “Euphoria”, starred in an American Eagle commercial where she touted her “great jeans”—a pun on “genes”—claiming, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My genes are blue.”
While seemingly innocuous, the ad faced swift backlash online for promoting a narrow, conventional beauty standard centered on a white, blonde, blue-eyed woman. Critics argued the messaging echoed problematic and even Nazi-era eugenics concepts by implicitly tying worth or desirability to such inherited traits[1][2].
Doja Cat’s Viral Response
On July 29, 2025, rapper and cultural influencer Doja Cat posted a TikTok parody mimicking Sweeney’s delivery with an exaggerated Southern accent, emphasizing the “blue genes” line to highlight the ad’s perceived absurdity and tone-deafness. Her playful yet pointed satire amplified the controversy, drawing millions of views and sparking further discussion across social platforms[1][2][4].
Wider Reactions and Impact
- The internet rapidly picked sides, with many condemning American Eagle’s campaign as out of touch and tone-deaf.
- The ad was eventually pulled from American Eagle’s official channels, reflecting the brand’s response to mounting criticism[2].
- Doja Cat, who is currently a model for Marc Jacobs, added a layer of brand rivalry and cultural commentary through her parody[2].
Why This Matters
This episode highlights the delicate balance brands must maintain in advertising today—especially around issues of diversity and representation. The backlash against the “great jeans” ad underscores growing public awareness and rejection of messaging that can be interpreted as exclusionary or reinforcing outdated beauty ideals.
What’s Next?
As American Eagle navigates the fallout, other brands are likely paying close attention to how consumer values are evolving in 2025. For celebrities like Doja Cat, who wield significant cultural influence, such moments offer an opportunity to shape the conversation on representation and authenticity in media.
In summary, the Doja Cat-led viral reaction to Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad is more than just a meme—it’s a reflection of ongoing cultural shifts and the power of social media in holding brands accountable.
FAQ
Q: Why did Doja Cat parody the ad?
Doja Cat parodied the ad to highlight its perceived absurdity and tone-deafness, turning it into a viral commentary that amplified public discussion about beauty standards and representation.
Q: How did American Eagle respond?
The brand eventually pulled the ad from its official channels in response to mounting criticism and social media backlash.
Q: What does this incident say about culture today?
It underscores the increasing importance of diversity, representation, and authenticity in advertising, with social media playing a crucial role in holding brands accountable.
Q: How can celebrities influence brand narratives?
Celebrities like Doja Cat leverage their cultural influence to shape conversations around societal issues and hold brands responsible for their messaging.