Who is midwesterng0thic? All about TikToker Sage as he receives backlash for weighing in on Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle controversy 

Tik-Toker receives backlash for comparing Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad to n*zi propaganda.

With a following of over 70,000 users, 25-year-old TikToker Sage, who goes by his TikTok name, midwesterng0thic, is a part-time cosplayer and full-time goth fashion enthusiast. He is known for his goth fashion and his opinions on U.S. pop culture. Sage in a TikTok video can be heard saying,

"Those Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ads are weird, like fascist-weird, like n*zi propaganda weird."

He then plays a scene from the ad, where Sweeney says, "my body's composition is determined by my jeans" and talks about how jeans are passed from "parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color."

The TikToker then went on to call the ad "a fascist propaganda" and questioned the brand featuring a "blond-haired blue blue-eyed, white woman" talking about "her good genes." Sage also questioned the impact the ad might have on all the young girls doing their back-to-school shopping.

The TikToker highlighted that American Eagle's customer base includes teenagers and young adults, and advertising such as Sweeney's is "for the male gaze and so over-s*xualized."

Sage also compared the American Eagle ad with Sydney's Brooke Shields' Calvin Klein jeans ad, which she did when she was 14. However, users on platforms like X have come to Sweeney's defense, claiming that the TikToker's claims are not valid.

What is the controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad?

Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad has garnered both applause and backlash. While some users praised the style of marketing and presentation used in the video ad format, others accused the ad of celebrating whiteness. The tagline, "Sydney Sweeney has Great Jeans," has also received backlash, and some critics highlighted problematic elements in the messaging.

As per a Salon report on the backlash, the term "great genes" is a "phrase historically used to celebrate whiteness, thinness, and attractiveness," making the campaign "tone deaf." Netizens also referenced the Eugenics movements in the U.S, which often promoted the idea of "good genes" to encourage reproduction among white, able-bodied individuals.

Netizens also questioned the portrayal of Sydney Sweeney, who allegedly takes on s*xually suggestive positions to flaunt the jeans. Netizens claimed the actress's portrayal contradicts the point of the ad, which claims that the brand is raising money for a charity that provides mental health support to victims of domestic violence.

However, the ad has also worked with some audience and American Eagle's stock price has surged by 12% after the campaign launch.

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