Tesla mocks American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney ‘great jeans’ ad amid controversy over alleged racist undertones

Tesla, led by CEO Elon Musk, took a cheeky jab at American Eagle’s advertising campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney, which has sparked a significant backlash over its controversial slogan and imagery.

The electric carmaker posted a tongue-in-cheek comment on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Our seats robot also has great jeans,” alongside a video showcasing a robotic arm testing car seats, humorously paralleling American Eagle’s focus on jeans.



Controversy surrounding American Eagle’s campaign
American Eagle’s fall 2025 denim campaign centers on the slogan “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” a pun playing on “great genes,” referencing the actress’s genetic traits. The campaign includes promotional videos where Sweeney discusses inherited genes affecting traits such as hair and eye color, with close-ups of her blue eyes and denim-clad figure.

Critics argue that this messaging echoes language tied to historic and discredited eugenics ideologies, often associated with white supremacist groups, sparking accusations of racist and regressive undertones. The slogan was initially shown as “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes” on posters before “Genes” was crossed out and replaced with “Jeans”.

The campaign’s visual and verbal emphasis on Sweeney's blonde hair, blue eyes, and slim figure has drawn criticism for promoting narrow, traditional ideals of beauty, perceived by some as tone-deaf or insensitive in today’s social climate. Social media reactions have ranged from accusations of endorsing white supremacy to dismissive views seen on the political right, which hailed it as a pushback against “wokeness.”

Despite controversy, American Eagle has not publicly responded to the backlash, and neither has Sweeney's representative.

American Eagle’s campaign impact
American Eagle describes the campaign as a “return to essential denim dressing” that celebrates their product’s fit and appeal. Furthermore, 100% of proceeds from the limited-edition jeans line known as “The Sydney Jean” are donated to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit mental health support organization, highlighting a cause-oriented purpose behind the campaign.

The brand continues to roll out the campaign amid ongoing debate, banking on star power to drive back-to-school season sales, a historically critical period for the retailer.