What did Stephen Colbert say about the American Eagle controversy? Comedian jokes he shares Sydney Sweeney’s "gene for sexy commercial scratchy voice"

Comedian Stephen Colbert shared his thoughts about Sydney Sweeney’s recent American Eagle ad controversy. The ad came under online scrutiny after critics perceived that there was wordplay between “jeans” and “genes.” On July 31, on his show, Colbert said:

“Before we talk about this next story, I don’t want to alarm you but the internet is mad about something. This time, it's a commercial from American Eagle Outfitters starring Sydney Sweeney.”

He then played the ad, following which he said:

“And just like Sydney Sweeney, I also carry the gene for sexy commercial scratchy voice. I get it from my uncle on my mother's side. He used to he used to say to me, ‘Stephen, I lost your birthday money at the dog track.’”

Stephen Colbert talked about how some people saw a new ad and thought it had a hidden message. He said the American Eagle ad used a play on words like “jeans” and “genes,” with Sweeney as a blonde white woman.

He mentioned how some people believed the company might have been supporting harmful ideas like white supremacy or N*zi beliefs. However, Colbert thought those reactions were probably too extreme. He then joked:

“Although Hitler did briefly model for mine comfort fit jeans. Whatever the truth, this controversy has been raging. And today, Don Jr. weighed in with this AI picture of his dad in the same outfit with the caption, ‘Donald is so h*t right now.’”

Stephen Colbert joked about Don Jr.’s comment, saying it was strange that when Don Jr. saw Sweeney, he compared her to his dad. Stephen found it funny, like something out of an old love poem.

What did author Marcus Collins say about the American Eagle ad controversy?

Author and professor Marcus Collins sat down with MJ Lee on CNN. When asked what he thought about the ad backlash, Collins said the issue wasn’t about being too politically correct or choosing sides in politics.

Instead, it was about how people understood the American Eagle ad. He said some people saw a normal fashion ad, while others thought it hinted at deeper ideas about race and identity. He explained that people see things differently based on their own experiences.

For example, he said, while some may see a cow as something to eat or wear, others may see it as something sacred. Speaking about how American Eagle’s stocks reportedly went up after the controversy, he said:

“Initially the stocks went up, but now they're trending downwards because it wasn't a lot of backlash at the onset when the ad came out last week. But this week, well over the weekend you start to see the social discourse. And I think this is sort of the important part here that our intentions as communicators may be one thing, but the way people interpret it is another.”

Marcus Collins explained that American Eagle’s ad might have worked well for people who thought the same way as the brand. It also resonated with those who understood what the brand was trying to say. According to him, people who saw it differently probably wouldn’t want to shop there.

Also read: Matt Rife jokes about signing a 85-year contract with American Eagle amid Sydney Sweeney controversy

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