New York Times Acts Like the Left Didn’t Completely Overreact to Sydney Sweeney Ad

Controversy Surrounds Sidney Sweeney’s American Eagle Ad

On Thursday, The New York Times seemingly overlooked how the political left was critiquing actress Sidney Sweeney’s new jeans advertisement. Critics from left-wing media and social platforms accused the ad of echoing Eugenics and Nazi propaganda by featuring a blonde, blue-eyed model and playing on the word “genes.” An article from The Times, titled “How to Shape the Discussion on Sydney Sweeney Advertising To the Right,” suggested that there wasn’t any real anger directed at Sweeney.

The Times pointed out that the term “gene” could imply a deeper connection to eugenics and white supremacy. A social media user criticized the paper, saying it seems to downplay the backlash associated with Sweeney’s ads.

In response to the criticism, The Times attempted to cast blame on right-wing influencers for stirring the conversation around the advertisement. They stated that only thousands of posts mentioned Sweeney and claimed that less than 10 percent expressed actual anger.

Left-wing media promptly began discussing racial themes following the controversy. MSNBC producer Hannah Holland published an article titled “Sydney Sweeney Advertises Unlimited Cultural Changes to Whiteness,” which described the ads as unexpectedly troubling. Holland acknowledged a swift and intense backlash, with many online commenters arguing that the advertisement was, at best, not inclusive and, at worst, a promotion of “white supremacy” and “Nazi propaganda.”

During a segment on “Good Morning America First Look,” a historian discussed how puns about “good genes” can be connected to the American eugenics movement. Meanwhile, some social media influencers condemned the ad, calling it “eugenic” and “Nazi propaganda.” One influencer posted a photo alongside Sweeney’s ad, proclaiming that “Black people have great genes. Indigenous people have amazing genes. Queer people have the best genes.”

Pop singer Lizzo joined the conversation, posting a photo of herself mimicking Sweeney’s pose, captioned “My jeans are black.” Several liberal commentators described the ad as emblematic of “white supremacy” and eugenic ideologies.