Sen. Ted Cruz Sparks Outrage Over 'Racist' Jeans Ad Featuring Sydney Sweeney

SCANDAL ROCKS AMERICAN EAGLE: Ted Cruz Weighs In on Racially Charged Ad, But His Own Wife's Past Comes Back to Haunt Him

In a shocking turn of events, American Eagle has found itself at the center of a firestorm over its latest ad campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. The ads, which were released just in time for back-to-school season, have been accused of being racially charged and even likened to Nazi propaganda by social media users.

But that's not all - Republican Senator Ted Cruz has jumped into the fray, defending the ad and taking a swipe at those who are criticizing it. However, his decision to weigh in on the controversy has only served to draw more attention to himself - and some of it is not exactly flattering.

The Ad That Sparked Outrage

The ads in question feature Sweeney, a 27-year-old blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress known for her roles in hit TV shows like "Euphoria" and "The White Lotus." But it's the tagline on one of the videos that has really gotten people talking: "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans."

Many have interpreted this as a euphemism for something far more sinister - namely, a celebration of whiteness, thinness, and attractiveness. And they're not alone in thinking so.

"Wow, American Eagle is literally using Nazi propaganda tactics to sell jeans," wrote one Twitter user. "This is insane. The 'great genes' line is just a thinly veiled reference to eugenics and white supremacy."

Ted Cruz Weighs In (And Gets Roasted)

But despite the backlash, Senator Ted Cruz saw fit to insert himself into the controversy - and boy, did he ever get roasted for it.

"Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "I'm sure that will poll well..."

Of course, not everyone was impressed by Cruz's attempt at humor. In fact, many took him to task for his own past behavior - specifically, when his wife Heidi was viciously attacked by now-President Donald Trump during the 2016 GOP presidential primary.

"Why didn't you stand up for your wife like this when @realDonaldTrump called her ugly?" asked one Twitter user. "Remember when Trump said she was 'beyond busted' and you just stood there silently? Not exactly the kind of courage we expect from a senator."

American Eagle's Response (And Why It May Have Been Genius)

But American Eagle Chief Marketing Officer Craig Brommers has a different explanation for what they were trying to accomplish with the ads.

"We thought putting Sydney Sweeney's face in our ads would be a winning strategy," he said. "She's one of the most recognizable young people in the world, and we wanted to use that to our advantage."

And it seems like it may have been a genius move - despite the backlash, American Eagle stock is up over 11% since last Wednesday, with a notable spike the day the commercials were released.

The Racist Undertones (And Why People Are Calling It Nazi Propaganda)

So what's really going on here? Is American Eagle just trying to sell some jeans, or are they actually perpetuating a racist ideology?

According to Salon, the phrase "great genes" has a long history of being used to celebrate whiteness, thinness, and attractiveness. And that's exactly what's sparked outrage among social media users.

"It's tone-deaf marketing at its finest," wrote one Twitter user. "They're basically saying that only certain people have 'great genes' - and it just so happens that those people are white and thin."

And then there's the comparison to Nazi propaganda. While some may see this as an over-the-top reaction, others argue that it's a legitimate concern.

"Like it's wild how blatant it is," wrote one Twitter user. "Things are weird right now, man."

The White House Weighs In (But It's Not What You Think)

In a bizarre twist, White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung has stepped in to defend the ad - not from criticism, but from what he sees as an overreaction.

"Cancel culture run amok," he wrote on X. "This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. They're tired of this bull**t."

So there you have it - American Eagle's racially charged ad campaign, Ted Cruz's ill-fated attempt to defend it, and the White House's inexplicable endorsement of it all.

What do you think? Is this just a silly controversy, or is there something more sinister at play here? Sound off in the comments!