Tesla Takes a Jab at Sydney Sweeney’s Ad Campaign

Tesla recently made a playful comment about the ad campaign for American Eagle featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. The company, headed by Elon Musk, humorously stated in a post, “Our seat robots also have great jeans,” which was accompanied by a video of a robotic arm testing car seat durability.

In a follow-up comment, they cheekily referred to “Sheetney,” adding a lighthearted twist to the conversation. As of now, American Eagle has not provided any feedback regarding the matter.

The ad campaign, which has drawn some attention, promotes denim through the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.” In a viral video, Sweeney approaches an AE billboard that replaces “genes” with “jeans” before she walks away.

However, this campaign faced criticism from various quarters, with some detractors claiming it has regressive undertones. Interestingly, while the jeans revenue is said to support mental health initiatives, critics have alleged that the tagline can be linked to “eugenics.”

The National Institutes of Health has described eugenics as a method of selective breeding aiming to improve humanity, which has sparked discussions online. Some social media users have pointed out that Sweeney’s appearance—blue eyes and blonde hair—seems to perpetuate a certain image that they find problematic.

One critic even remarked on X, comparing the tagline to a notion of “white purity,” suggesting that this has offended some audiences.

In defense of Sweeney, media personality Piers Morgan tweeted against the backlash, stating that the criticisms often unjustly label women who embrace beauty and attraction.

As the conversation around the ad intensified, Tesla’s stock continues to fluctuate.

Adding another layer to the controversy, the AE website indicates that the butterfly logo on the jeans’ back pocket signifies support against domestic violence, which is something Sweeney endorses. They also mention that 100% of the proceeds from the “Sidney Jean” will go to the Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit organization aiding mental health awareness.

Despite these charitable efforts linked to the jeans, the criticism surrounding the campaign and its implications seem to persist.