Sydney Sweeney and Nate Bargatze: The Emmy Ad Campaign Joke That Missed the Mark

EMMY GATE: Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle Ad Campaign Sparks Outrage and Accusations of 'Nazi Propaganda'

The 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards was supposed to be a night of glamour and excitement, but it took a dark turn when Nate Bargatze, the host of the ceremony, made a joke about Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad campaign that left many in the audience scratching their heads. The controversy surrounding the campaign has been brewing for weeks, with some accusing Sweeney and the clothing brand of promoting "Nazi propaganda" through their marketing efforts.

Sweeney, 28, was at the center of the scandal after her new campaign for American Eagle debuted with the tagline "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans." The ads featured the actress modeling various denim ensembles while discussing her genetics and how they determine traits like hair color, personality, and eye color. However, some critics felt that the campaign was using coded language to promote a racist and eugenicist ideology.

The backlash against Sweeney and American Eagle was swift and intense, with many taking to social media to express their outrage and disgust. "This ad campaign is literally one of the loudest and most obvious racialized dog whistles we've seen in a while," wrote TikTok user Angie under the handle @vitalmediamarketing. "Praising Sydney Sweeney for her great genes in the context of her white blonde hair, blue eye appearance" was seen as a clear example of how language can be used to promote discriminatory ideologies.

Others accused American Eagle of being tone-deaf and out of touch with the current social climate. "This ad campaign got so caught up in this 'clever' play on words and this stunt that people in the room missed what was so blatantly obvious to anyone not White," wrote one user on Instagram. "I'd expect this from Abercrombie, but not y'all."

Despite the backlash, many fans of Sweeney came to her defense, calling the criticism "unhinged" and accusing those who were outraged by the campaign of being overly sensitive. "If you think a jeans ad with a pun about Sydney Sweeney being pretty is a Nazi dogwhistle, you genuinely need to put the phone down for a while," wrote one user on Twitter.

However, not everyone was convinced that the criticism was unfounded. "You guys don't have to like Sydney Sweeney or the ways she promotes herself, but don't you think comparing those Jean commercials to Nazi propaganda is a tad extreme?" asked another user.

The controversy surrounding American Eagle's ad campaign has raised important questions about the role of advertising in society and how language can be used to promote discriminatory ideologies. As one user noted, "This is what happens when you have no people of color in a room... particularly in a time like this."

In an effort to distance themselves from the controversy, American Eagle released a statement saying that their campaign was intended to raise money for domestic violence charities and that they were working with Crisis Text Line to provide grants for mental health support and crisis intervention. However, the damage had already been done, and Sweeney's reputation had taken a hit.

As the drama surrounding the ad campaign continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the line between advertising and social commentary has become increasingly blurred, and brands are being held accountable for the messages they send through their marketing efforts. Will American Eagle be able to recover from this scandal, or will it mark the beginning of the end for the brand's reputation?

A Closer Look at Sydney Sweeney's Ad Campaign

Sweeney's ad campaign for American Eagle was part of a larger effort by the brand to promote their denim line and raise money for domestic violence charities. The campaign featured several ads, including one that showed Sweeney modeling a pair of jeans while discussing her genetics.

In an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, Jennifer Foyle, president of American Eagle Outfitters, said that Sweeney was the perfect choice to front their campaign because she "brings the allure" and they added "the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude, and a little mischief."

However, not everyone was convinced by Foyle's explanation. As one user noted on Instagram, "This has to be rage bait," while another user asked, "Who on your marketing team said this was a good idea?"

The controversy surrounding Sweeney's ad campaign raises important questions about the role of advertising in society and how language can be used to promote discriminatory ideologies. As one user noted, "You guys don't have to like Sydney Sweeney or the ways she promotes herself, but don't you think comparing those Jean commercials to Nazi propaganda is a tad extreme?"

The Backlash Against American Eagle

The backlash against American Eagle was swift and intense, with many taking to social media to express their outrage and disgust. "This ad campaign is literally one of the loudest and most obvious racialized dog whistles we've seen in a while," wrote TikTok user Angie under the handle @vitalmediamarketing.

Others accused American Eagle of being tone-deaf and out of touch with the current social climate. "This ad campaign got so caught up in this 'clever' play on words and this stunt that people in the room missed what was so blatantly obvious to anyone not White," wrote one user on Instagram.

Despite the backlash, many fans of Sweeney came to her defense, calling the criticism "unhinged" and accusing those who were outraged by the campaign of being overly sensitive. "If you think a jeans ad with a pun about Sydney Sweeney being pretty is a Nazi dogwhistle, you genuinely need to put the phone down for a while," wrote one user on Twitter.

However, not everyone was convinced that the criticism was unfounded. "You guys don't have to like Sydney Sweeney or the ways she promotes herself, but don't you think comparing those Jean commercials to Nazi propaganda is a tad extreme?" asked another user.

The Impact of the Controversy

The controversy surrounding American Eagle's ad campaign has raised important questions about the role of advertising in society and how language can be used to promote discriminatory ideologies. As one user noted, "This is what happens when you have no people of color in a room... particularly in a time like this."

In an effort to distance themselves from the controversy, American Eagle released a statement saying that their campaign was intended to raise money for domestic violence charities and that they were working with Crisis Text Line to provide grants for mental health support and crisis intervention.

However, the damage had already been done, and Sweeney's reputation had taken a hit. As one user noted on Instagram, "This has to be rage bait," while another user asked, "Who on your marketing team said this was a good idea?"

The controversy surrounding American Eagle's ad campaign serves as a reminder that brands are being held accountable for the messages they send through their marketing efforts. Will American Eagle be able to recover from this scandal, or will it mark the beginning of the end for the brand's reputation?

A Timeline of Events

• July 23: Sweeney releases a statement about her new campaign with American Eagle, saying that she loves the brand and is excited to be working with them.
• July 24: The backlash against Sweeney's ad campaign begins, with many taking to social media to express their outrage and disgust.
• August 1: American Eagle releases a statement saying that their campaign was intended to raise money for domestic violence charities and that they were working with Crisis Text Line to provide grants for mental health support and crisis intervention.
• August 2: The controversy surrounding Sweeney's ad campaign continues to unfold, with many fans of the actress coming to her defense.

What's Next?

As the drama surrounding American Eagle's ad campaign continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the line between advertising and social commentary has become increasingly blurred, and brands are being held accountable for the messages they send through their marketing efforts. Will American Eagle be able to recover from this scandal, or will it mark the beginning of the end for the brand's reputation? Only time will tell.

In related news, Sweeney was spotted at the Emmy Awards on Sunday, where she wore a stunning red Oscar de la Renta gown that sparked both praise and criticism. As one user noted on social media, "She looks good but we all know why she chose red."