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

Outrage over the American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney comes in a time of heightened concerns about white supremacy and its historical ties to eugenics.

By Candice Norwood for The 19th

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.”