Dunkin' releases controversial commercial mentioning genetics amid uproar over Sydney Sweeney ads
'If sipping these refreshers makes me the king of summer? Guilty as charged,' he says.
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Amid the uproar over the American Eagle campaign, the
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A spokesperson for the Canton-based Dunkin' has not responded to a request for comment.
The biggest issue raised with American Eagle's new campaign, titled 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,' was the part
To some, the ad seemed tone-deaf, particularly at a time when President Trump is attacking
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American Eagle has not publicly commented on the controversy over its campaign.
Eugenics, which gained popularity in the early 20th century, is the discredited theory that selective breeding can be used to improve the human race, and it has been linked to racist policies and beliefs, according to the
The timing, and similar reference to genetics, of the Dunkin' promotion immediately drew attention.
Conservative commentators and influencers seized on the backlash, with some saying they would now be getting their coffee at Dunkin' and others posting
In the past, Republicans have boycotted a number of companies — among them
Sara McCord, a marketing communications strategist, called the Dunkin'
ad 'problematic for so many reasons,' criticizing the depiction of crowning someone king in an ad only weeks after the nationwide
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'When they say that art imitates life, clearly, these throughlines and discussions and philosophies are percolating under the surface because of what is happening culturally,' she said. 'Not even under the surface. What's happening right in front of our face is informing creative
[strategy] that people think is reasonable.'
While others in the industry agreed companies should avoid bringing up genetics in advertisements, they said the Dunkin' campaign seemed like an
ill-timed
coincidence.
In contrast to Dunkin', it seemed like American Eagle was intentionally 'chasing buzz, using controversy to pack a punch,' Mouna El Azim,
And in the days immediately following the launch of the Sweeney campaign, it seemed to have an impact, as its stock rose
From a business perspective, it makes sense why Dunkin' didn't scrap their idea after the American Eagle campaign landed,
'They likely spent millions on it, they couldn't exactly hold it due to the drink's release and the popularity of the show and I'm sure they didn't think the 'genetics' line was THAT bad,' she said. 'All that to say, maybe we can collectively agree to avoid creating ads that speak about genetics (whether it's a pun or not)?'
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You're too young to remember, but this is what being in High School and grabbing a dunkin on the way to Abercrombie was like in 2005
— Matt (@MatthewRideout)
Dunkin' is cashing in on the good genes trend with a full-blown white boy summer ad in all its golden glory.
— P👁🗨NY (@PONY_Official)
American Eagle and Dunkin' Donuts's sales after making anti-woke commercials
— MAGS (@TAftermath2020)
Oh just going to Dunkin Donuts in my Ford Mustang and wearing my AE jeans.
— Fred Simon (@FredSimonTLM)
Shannon Larson can be reached at
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