It’s not just ‘good genes.’ It’s a dark reminder of history.

Candice Norwood

Reporter

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On its surface, American Eagle’s ad campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney repeats a play on words used by other denim brands touting their “good jeans.” But the ad goes beyond the clothing by directly linking a White woman — the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Sweeney — to having “great genes” while seemingly wearing a pair of great jeans.

“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue,” Sweeney says, as the camera pans up her body. The video ends with a voiceover proclaiming, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”

The ad is a reference to a famous 1980 Calvin Klein commercial featuring then 15-year-old Brooke Shields.