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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 Ad Campaigns That Drew Public Backlash For Being Creepy, Crass, And Downright Cringey
Sometimes companies release ad campaigns that simply miss the mark. And while all businesses occasionally have bad ideas, a few of these ads have sparked public outrage after being deemed downright inappropriate or offensive... From teenage Brooke Shields's risqué Calvin Klein ads to Sydney Sweeney's recent American Eagle campaign, there are certain ads or commercials that have sparked backlash for being creepy, crass, or downright cringey. Without further ado, here are 11 times an advertisement massively backfired on a company: 1."Sydney Sweeney has great jeans" (2025): In July 2025, American Eagle announced a partnership with Sydney Sweeney by releasing a series of ads focusing on her body. Despite the provocative nature of this campaign, the commercial that has encountered the most condemnation features the Euphoria star explaining, "Genes are passed down from parent to offspring, often determining traits like eye color, personality, and even hair color. My jeans are blue." While many claim that the ad is simply reminiscent of Brooke Shields's infamous 1980 Calvin Klein ad in which the 15-year-old discussed "selective mating," other social media users have pointed out that in today's political climate, the ad seems to use eugenicist language by showcasing a young, blonde-haired, blue-eyed white woman as the "pinnacle" of genetics, with some going so far as to deem it "Nazi propaganda." In one TikTok video, Sayantani DasGupta, a lecturer at Columbia University, noted that the campaign was 'really imbued with eugenic messaging' and that 'It is both a testament to this political moment, and it's contributing to and reinforcing this kind of anti-immigrant, anti-people of color, pro-eugenic political moment." Related: Others have deemed the sexualization of Sweeney in the ads as particularly odd after American Eagle announced that a "A butterfly motif on the back pocket of the jean represents domestic violence awareness, which Sydney is passionate about. In support of the cause, 100% of the purchase price from 'The Sydney Jean' will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering free, 24/7, confidential mental health support to anyone in need." Rachel Tashjian, a fashion writer for the Washington Post, claimed the ads are 'regressive' and 'tethered to the values of another time," writing, 'It is strange to see a brand like American Eagle go in this direction. Should teenagers be served a vision of sexuality and fashion that feels so regressive?' Despite the backlash from both the press and the public, American Eagle stock has jumped 20 percent since the campaign was released. Neither the company nor Sweeney has made any public statements regarding the controversy. Jenner's "Jump In" Pepsi ad (2017): Pepsi, long known for its star-studded commercials, made a major misstep in the public eye on April 4, 2017, when the soda brand released its "Jump In" ad featuring Kendall Jenner. The ad depicted the model in the midst of a photoshoot when she notices a protest making its way down the street. The protestors hold signs that seem to signal a peaceful rally when the then-21-year-old decides to join them, fist bumping a fellow protester, and grabbing a Pepsi from an icy bucket. She then spots a police officer and hands him a Pepsi while a woman wearing a hijab looks on and photographs the climactic moment (which many critics noted was eerily similar to a well-publicized photo of protester Ieshia Evans standing in front of a police line during a protest against the police killing of a Black man in Baton Rouge). In a press statement released the day the ad went public, Pepsi stated that the commercial was part of its "Live For Now" campaign and "captures the spirit and actions of those people that jump in to every moment. It features multiple lives, stories, and emotional connections that show passion, joy, unbound and uninhibited moments." However, many critics accused the soda company of trivializing and belittling a significant equality movement for profit. Civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Bernice King spoke out by tweeting a photo of her late father being pushed backwards by a police line with the caption, "If only Daddy knew about the power of #Pepsi." The soda company responded directly to King, writing, "We at Pepsi believe in the legacy of Dr. King & meant absolutely no disrespect to him & others who fight for justice." The ad also faced scrutiny from media outlets with a Washington Post headline proclaiming, 'Pepsi Tried Cashing In on Black Lives Matter With a Kendall Jenner Ad. Here's How That's Going," and Adweek deeming it "tone-deaf." By the following day, at 1:45 p.m., Pepsi officially pulled the commercial and released a statement, 'Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace, and understanding. Clearly, we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position." Jenner did not address the controversy at the time; however, she shared her reaction during an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which aired in October of that year. Explaining on camera, "I trusted everyone. I trusted the teams. But after I saw the reaction and I read what people had to say about it, I most definitely saw what went wrong. I was so stuck, and I really didn't know what to do, that I completely shut down...I would never purposely hurt someone ever, and I would, obviously, if I knew this was gonna be the outcome, like, I would have never done something like this. But you don't know when you're in the moment." 3."Peloton Wife" (2019): In 2019, Peloton faced backlash for alleged sexism after their holiday ad, titled "The Gift That Gives Back," featured a woman's husband gifting her a Peloton for the holiday season. The ad continued to show the woman documenting her fitness journey over the course of a year, and concluded with her showing her husband the footage the following year, while she states, "A year ago, I didn't realize how much this would change me." The criticism online was instantaneous, with tweets like "Nothing says 'maybe you should lose a few pounds' like gifting your already rail thin life partner a Peloton," and comedians, such as Eva Victor, making profanity-laden parodies. Many even noted that the "dystopian" ad was akin to a Black Mirror episode Within a few days, Peloton's stock had dropped 9% (at one point, the company lost $1.5 billion due to the backlash), and rumors spread about the commercial possibly being pulled from the air, however a company spokesperson told CNBC, 'We constantly hear from our members how their lives have been meaningfully and positively impacted after purchasing or being gifted a Peloton Bike or Tread, often in ways that surprise them. Our holiday spot was created to celebrate that fitness and wellness journey, while we're disappointed in how some have misinterpreted this commercial, we are encouraged by — and grateful for — the outpouring of support we've received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate." A few days later, Monica Ruiz, the actor who played the role dubbed "Peloton Wife," appeared on the Today show to share her reaction to the backlash: "Honestly, I think it was just my face. It was my fault. My eyebrows looked worried, I guess. People were like, 'She looked scared.'" She added that at the end of the day, "I hope people can remember that I'm not actually the 'Peloton lady' and let me work other jobs." Those other jobs came in the form of Ryan Reynolds hiring Ruiz to appear in an ad for his Aviation Gin brand that poked fun at the Peloton ad, depicting Ruiz drinking gin at a bar while friends consoled her. Reynolds shared the ad with the caption: "Exercise bike not included." Related: AI-generated holiday ad (2024): In November 2024, Coca-Cola encountered backlash after releasing their holiday ad, which harkened back to their classic 1985 commercial titled "Holidays Are Coming." The 15-second 2024 commercial featured a fleet of iconically red trucks driving through a snowy and festive town to deliver Coca-Cola. In small print, the ad states: 'created by Real Magic AI.' The ad, which was meant to inspire nostalgia, rather invoked outrage from consumers and artists alike, with Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch commenting, 'FUN FACT: @CocaCola is 'red' because it's made from the blood of out-of-work artists! #HolidayFactz." However, this wasn't Coca-Cola's first usage of AI in advertisements. In 2023, the brand collaborated with OpenAI to release an AI-generated ad titled "Masterpiece" depicting iconic sculptures and paintings coming to life and sharing a bottle of soda. Neeraj Arora, University of Wisconsin-Madison's chair of marketing research and education, explained why the backlash was more prominent against the holiday ad: "Your holidays are a time of connection, time of community, time to connect with family, and that's sort of a big part of what the holidays are about. But then you throw AI into the mix that is not a fit, that is not a fit with holiday timing, but also, to some degree, also Coke, what the brand means to people." Forbes reported that the ad was made using four generative AI models with the help of three studios. After the backlash, the iconic soda brand released a statement, claiming: "The Coca-Cola Company has celebrated a long history of capturing the magic of the holidays in content, film, events and retail activations for decades around the globe. We are always exploring new ways to connect with consumers and experiment with different approaches. This year, we crafted films through a collaboration of human storytellers and the power of generative AI. Coca-Cola will always remain dedicated to creating the highest level of work at the intersection of human creativity and technology." Jr. "All Natural" Super Bowl commercial (2015): In 2015, Carl's Jr. drew backlash for its "scandalous" 42-second Super Bowl commercial titled "All Natural." The ad featured model Charlotte McKinney walking through a farmers market, seemingly nude, having her body parts blocked by multiple items. It was not revealed until more than 30 seconds in that the commercial is about food. A conversation was sparked online, but it certainly wasn't about hamburgers. Some responded sarcastically, such as, "Just saw a preview of Carl's Jr. commercial for Super Bowl. Now I need a cigarette," while others pointed out the ad's objectification of women was "Setting feminism back four decades." The fast-food chain, however, was no stranger to using female celebs, such as Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum, and Kate Upton, for provocative ads in the past, so much so that it led social media users to create the hashtag #WomenAreMoreThanMeat. Lisa Granatstein, an Adweek editor, explained to Good Morning America that no matter what kind of response Carl's Jr. received to the commercial, all publicity was good publicity: "I think everyone knows what Carl's Jr. is all about. Those ads aren't going after women, they're going after men. They are not afraid of the controversy. The more controversy, the better. They get more clicks on YouTube, they get more social media. It's a win-win for them. I don't think they care one way or the other what women think about these ads." However, she did note that "A lot of advertisers have backed away from sexy, raunchy advertisements." At the time, a spokesperson from the parent company of Carl's Jr. told ABC News that the ads "don't show anything you wouldn't see at the beach and that they don't cross the line, but they like to get right up to it." Related: model changing soap ad (2017): Dove / Via In 2017, Dove released a Facebook ad promoting body wash that showed a Black woman removing her shirt and becoming a white woman with red hair; the clip also showed the white woman removing her shirt to become another woman with dark hair. This three-second GIF drew outrage online, as many compared it to the advertisements of the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as one from the N.K. Fairbank Company, in which a white child asked a Black child, 'Why doesn't your mamma wash you with Fairy soap?' People pointed out that these ads of the past advertised that "dirty" blackness should be "cleansed" into whiteness by soap. Social media users questioned how the commercial made it through multiple rounds of approval, making comments such as, "Dove marketing execs approving that racist ad." However, others noted that toward the end of the clip, the white woman did "become" someone else, writing, "The third woman is definitely not white but this was a bad deliverance of the message that all can use the soap." A few days later, Dove issued an official apology on Facebook, writing: "Dove is committed to representing the beauty of diversity. In an image we posted this week, we missed the mark in thoughtfully representing women of color and we deeply regret the offense that it has caused." The following day, Marissa Solan, a spokesperson for the company, said that the ad "was intended to convey that Dove Body Wash is for every woman and be a celebration of diversity, but we got it wrong and, as a result, offended many people," and noted that the GIF had been taken down by the company and that they were 're-evaluating our internal processes for creating and reviewing content.' However, many were unimpressed by the company's apology, with one Facebook user commenting, 'What was the mark? I mean anyone with eyes can see how offensive this is. Not one person on your staff objected to this? Wow. Will not be buying your products anymore." "Look like a girl" Facebook post (2015): In August 2015, Bic drew ire from social media users for their Facebook message/ad for South Africa's National Women's Day that prompted women to: "Look like a girl. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a boss." Thousands expressed disgust online with feminist activist Caroline Criado-Perez tweeting, "What fresh hell is this' and 'srsly, 'think like a man'...*stabs eyes out with bic pen.*" The Sunday Times of Johannesburg reported that one commenter stated, "Look like a girl?' Because the infantilisation of women and the sexualisation of children is exactly the kind of blurred line we need!" This wasn't Bic's first time facing public outrage, as the company released pink "for her" pens in 2011 that were "designed to fit comfortably in a woman's hand." Ellen DeGeneres mocked the pens in a monologue, asking, 'They don't come with any instructions, so like, how do they expect us to learn how to write with them?' and making a spoof commercial where she instructed a young girl to 'write down a grocery list or even recipes for when you need to feed your man." Bic South Africa later apologized on Facebook for the Women's Day ad, noting that the quote was taken from a blog and was intended to be taken 'in the most empowering way possible and in no way derogatory towards women." However, that apology failed to appease social media users, prompting the company to release another statement: 'Let's start out by saying we're incredibly sorry for offending everybody – that was never our intention, but we completely understand where we've gone wrong. This post should never have gone out. The feedback you have given us will help us ensure that something like this will never happen again, and we appreciate that." "White is purity" ad (2017): In 2017, German-based personal care company Nivea sparked backlash after posting a Facebook ad to promote their "Invisible for Black & White" deodorant, showing the back of a brown-haired, robe-clad woman overlaid with the words: "White is purity." The post caption stated, "Keep it clean, keep it bright. Don't let anything ruin it." The online backlash was immediate, with many claiming that the ad had overt tones of white supremacy, considering that the post was targeted at the brand's Middle Eastern following, writing, "Come on #Nivea. This is so racist that I do not even know where to begin. Speechless. In future, refer to clothes or products, not colors." The ad was also widely shared in alt-right online communities, with one account claiming: "#Nivea: the official moisturizer/anti-perspirant of the #AltRight." The ad was removed from the company's Facebook account after two days, and an apologetic statement was released: 'We are deeply sorry to anyone who may take offense to this specific post. Diversity and equal opportunity are crucial values of Nivea.' Speaking to the New York Times, a representative for the company explained that the campaign was targeted at Middle Eastern followers who would associate black with strength and white with purity. Related: Ashton Kutcher as Raj commercial (2012): In 2012, Ashton Kutcher appeared in an ad for Popchips, where he appeared as four different people: a diva, a biker, a hippie, and a Bollywood producer, named Raj. Kutcher adopted an accent and appeared in brownface to play the character, who discusses his dating preferences, while making no reference to Popchips at any point. (At the time, the That '70s Show star was labeled as the brand's "president of pop culture.") Tech entrepreneur Anil Dash was a major critic, writing on his blog that the ad was "a hackneyed, unfunny advertisement featuring Kutcher in brownface talking about his romantic options, with the entire punchline being that he's doing it in a fake-Indian outfit and voice. That's it, there's seriously no other gag." He continued, "If you find yourself putting brown makeup on a white person in 2012 so they can do a bad 'funny' accent in order to sell potato chips, you are on the wrong course. Make some different decisions." Dash later noted that Keith Belling, CEO of Popchips, called him to extend a "sincere and contrite" apology. The ad was removed from the snack company's social media accounts, and a spokesperson issued an apology on the company's behalf, "The new Popchips worldwide dating parody featuring four characters was created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone. At Popchips we embrace all types of shapes, flavors and colors, and appreciate all snackers, no matter their race or ethnicity. We hope people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended." Belling also chimed in on the company's blog, writing, "i take full responsibility and apologize to anyone we offended." Kutcher remained silent on the controversy. King's "Women belong in the kitchen" tweet (2021): For International Women's Day in 2021, Burger King UK made a serious online blunder when they tweeted, "Women belong in the kitchen." Follow-up tweets announced that the statement was simply meant to grab users attention and promote the fast food chain's new scholarship, 'If they want to, of course. Yet only 20% of chefs are women. We're on a mission to change the gender ratio," and "We are proud to be launching a new scholarship programme which will help female Burger King employees pursue their culinary dreams." However, many social media users never made it past the sheer shock of seeing "Women belong in the kitchen" appear on their feed. With some writing, "Please don't use sexism as clickbait," and "There's better ways to draw attention to something that don't including using the most sexist trope ever." One commenter pointed out that the "sexist" tweet brought more publicity to the account, stating, "The engagement on your original tweet—which, again, is literally just a sexist trope—is 527% *higher* than the tweet announcing the scholarship program. Way more people are seeing you validate sexism on #InternationalWomensDay than are learning about your scholarship program." After spending the day issuing explanations, Burger King eventually removed the post and officially apologized, writing: "We hear you. We got our initial tweet wrong and we're sorry. Our aim was to draw attention to the fact that only 20% of professional chefs in UK kitchens are women and to help change that by awarding culinary scholarships. We will do better next time." Klein's Brooke Shields ad campaign (1980): When Brooke Shields's now-infamous Calvin Klein ad first aired in November 1980, it fueled a media frenzy. While there were many ads in the series shot by director Richard Avedon, the one that sparked the most backlash was when the then-15-year-old asked viewers, "Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." That line scandalized American viewers, leading to the commercial being banned by ABC and CBS in New York, as well as other countries. In a 2021 Vogue interview, Shields recalled her reaction to the press's outrage, "I was away when they came out, and then I started hearing that the commercials were being banned. The paparazzi would scream at me and my mother, 'How could you!' It just struck me as so ridiculous.' The now-60-year-old noted that she never thought of the line as an innuendo, claiming, 'I didn't think it was about underwear or sexual in nature. I was naive. I think the assumption was that I was much more savvy than I ever really was. I was a virgin, and I was a virgin forever after that.' Despite the controversy, Shields maintains that she is still proud of the ad and its legacy, 'The controversy backfired. The campaign was extremely successful, and then the underwear overtook the jeans.' She doubled down on her support for the campaign in a March 2023 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, telling Colbert, "It was a phrase. It wasn't 'I'm not wearing underwear' or 'come' wasn't spelled differently, it was c-o-m-e, I was like, 'What's the problem?'" She proceeded to call the ensuing backlash "ludicrous." Can you think of any other ad campaigns that encountered backlash from the public? Tell us in the comments below! Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Solve the daily Crossword
Buzz Feed
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Shocking Ad Campaigns That Sparked Outlash
Sometimes companies release ad campaigns that simply miss the mark. And while all businesses occasionally have bad ideas, a few of these ads have sparked public outrage after being deemed downright inappropriate or offensive... From teenage Brooke Shields's risqué Calvin Klein ads to Sydney Sweeney's recent American Eagle campaign, there are certain ads or commercials that have sparked backlash for being creepy, crass, or downright cringey. Without further ado, here are 11 times an advertisement massively backfired on a company: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans" (2025): In July 2025, American Eagle announced a partnership with Sydney Sweeney by releasing a series of ads focusing on her body. Despite the provocative nature of this campaign, the commercial that has encountered the most condemnation features the Euphoria star explaining, "Genes are passed down from parent to offspring, often determining traits like eye color, personality, and even hair color. My jeans are blue."While many claim that the ad is simply reminiscent of Brooke Shields's infamous 1980 Calvin Klein ad in which the 15-year-old discussed "selective mating," other social media users have pointed out that in today's political climate, the ad seems to use eugenicist language by showcasing a young, blonde-haired, blue-eyed white woman as the "pinnacle" of genetics, with some going so far as to deem it "Nazi propaganda."In one TikTok video, Sayantani DasGupta, a lecturer at Columbia University, noted that the campaign was 'really imbued with eugenic messaging' and that 'It is both a testament to this political moment, and it's contributing to and reinforcing this kind of anti-immigrant, anti-people of color, pro-eugenic political moment." Others have deemed the sexualization of Sweeney in the ads as particularly odd after American Eagle announced that a "A butterfly motif on the back pocket of the jean represents domestic violence awareness, which Sydney is passionate about. In support of the cause, 100% of the purchase price from 'The Sydney Jean' will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering free, 24/7, confidential mental health support to anyone in need." Kendall Jenner's "Jump In" Pepsi ad (2017): Pepsi, long known for its star-studded commercials, made a major misstep in the public eye on April 4, 2017, when the soda brand released its "Jump In" ad featuring Kendall ad depicted the model in the midst of a photoshoot when she notices a protest making its way down the street. The protestors hold signs that seem to signal a peaceful rally when the then-21-year-old decides to join them, fist bumping a fellow protester, and grabbing a Pepsi from an icy bucket. She then spots a police officer and hands him a Pepsi while a woman wearing a hijab looks on and photographs the climactic moment (which many critics noted was eerily similar to a well-publicized photo of protester Ieshia Evans standing in front of a police line during a protest against the police killing of a Black man in Baton Rouge).In a press statement released the day the ad went public, Pepsi stated that the commercial was part of its "Live For Now" campaign and "captures the spirit and actions of those people that jump in to every moment. It features multiple lives, stories, and emotional connections that show passion, joy, unbound and uninhibited moments." However, many critics accused the soda company of trivializing and belittling a significant equality movement for profit. Civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Bernice King spoke out by tweeting a photo of her late father being pushed backwards by a police line with the caption, "If only Daddy knew about the power of #Pepsi." "Peloton Wife" (2019): In 2019, Peloton faced backlash for alleged sexism after their holiday ad, titled "The Gift That Gives Back," featured a woman's husband gifting her a Peloton for the holiday season. The ad continued to show the woman documenting her fitness journey over the course of a year, and concluded with her showing her husband the footage the following year, while she states, "A year ago, I didn't realize how much this would change me."The criticism online was instantaneous, with tweets like "Nothing says 'maybe you should lose a few pounds' like gifting your already rail thin life partner a Peloton," and comedians, such as Eva Victor, making profanity-laden parodies. Many even noted that the "dystopian" ad was akin to a Black Mirror episode Within a few days, Peloton's stock had dropped 9% (at one point, the company lost $1.5 billion due to the backlash), and rumors spread about the commercial possibly being pulled from the air, however a company spokesperson told CNBC, 'We constantly hear from our members how their lives have been meaningfully and positively impacted after purchasing or being gifted a Peloton Bike or Tread, often in ways that surprise them. Our holiday spot was created to celebrate that fitness and wellness journey, while we're disappointed in how some have misinterpreted this commercial, we are encouraged by — and grateful for — the outpouring of support we've received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate." A few days later, Monica Ruiz, the actor who played the role dubbed "Peloton Wife," appeared on the Today show to share her reaction to the backlash: "Honestly, I think it was just my face. It was my fault. My eyebrows looked worried, I guess. People were like, 'She looked scared.'" She added that at the end of the day, "I hope people can remember that I'm not actually the 'Peloton lady' and let me work other jobs." Coca-Cola's AI-generated holiday ad (2024): In November 2024, Coca-Cola encountered backlash after releasing their holiday ad, which harkened back to their classic 1985 commercial titled "Holidays Are Coming." The 15-second 2024 commercial featured a fleet of iconically red trucks driving through a snowy and festive town to deliver Coca-Cola. In small print, the ad states: 'created by Real Magic AI.' The ad, which was meant to inspire nostalgia, rather invoked outrage from consumers and artists alike, with Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch commenting, 'FUN FACT: @CocaCola is 'red' because it's made from the blood of out-of-work artists! #HolidayFactz." However, this wasn't Coca-Cola's first usage of AI in advertisements. In 2023, the brand collaborated with OpenAI to release an AI-generated ad titled "Masterpiece" depicting iconic sculptures and paintings coming to life and sharing a bottle of soda. Carl's Jr. "All Natural" Super Bowl commercial (2015): In 2015, Carl's Jr. drew backlash for its "scandalous" 42-second Super Bowl commercial titled "All Natural." The ad featured model Charlotte McKinney walking through a farmers market, seemingly nude, having her body parts blocked by multiple items. It was not revealed until more than 30 seconds in that the commercial is about food.A conversation was sparked online, but it certainly wasn't about hamburgers. Some responded sarcastically, such as, "Just saw a preview of Carl's Jr. commercial for Super Bowl. Now I need a cigarette," while others pointed out the ad's objectification of women was "Setting feminism back four decades."The fast-food chain, however, was no stranger to using female celebs, such as Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum, and Kate Upton, for provocative ads in the past, so much so that it led social media users to create the hashtag #WomenAreMoreThanMeat. Lisa Granatstein, an Adweek editor, explained to Good Morning America that no matter what kind of response Carl's Jr. received to the commercial, all publicity was good publicity: "I think everyone knows what Carl's Jr. is all about. Those ads aren't going after women, they're going after men. They are not afraid of the controversy. The more controversy, the better. They get more clicks on YouTube, they get more social media. It's a win-win for them. I don't think they care one way or the other what women think about these ads." However, she did note that "A lot of advertisers have backed away from sexy, raunchy advertisements." Dove's model changing soap ad (2017): In 2017, Dove released a Facebook ad promoting body wash that showed a Black woman removing her shirt and becoming a white woman with red hair; the clip also showed the white woman removing her shirt to become another woman with dark three-second GIF drew outrage online, as many compared it to the advertisements of the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as one from the N.K. Fairbank Company, in which a white child asked a Black child, 'Why doesn't your mamma wash you with Fairy soap?' People pointed out that these ads of the past advertised that "dirty" blackness should be "cleansed" into whiteness by media users questioned how the commercial made it through multiple rounds of approval, making comments such as, "Dove marketing execs approving that racist ad." However, others noted that toward the end of the clip, the white woman did "become" someone else, writing, "The third woman is definitely not white but this was a bad deliverance of the message that all can use the soap." A few days later, Dove issued an official apology on Facebook, writing: "Dove is committed to representing the beauty of diversity. In an image we posted this week, we missed the mark in thoughtfully representing women of color and we deeply regret the offense that it has caused." Bic's "Look like a girl" Facebook post (2015): In August 2015, Bic drew ire from social media users for their Facebook message/ad for South Africa's National Women's Day that prompted women to: "Look like a girl. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a boss." Thousands expressed disgust online with feminist activist Caroline Criado-Perez tweeting, "What fresh hell is this' and 'srsly, 'think like a man'...*stabs eyes out with bic pen.*" The Sunday Times of Johannesburg reported that one commenter stated, "Look like a girl?' Because the infantilisation of women and the sexualisation of children is exactly the kind of blurred line we need!"This wasn't Bic's first time facing public outrage, as the company released pink "for her" pens in 2011 that were "designed to fit comfortably in a woman's hand." Ellen DeGeneres mocked the pens in a monologue, asking, 'They don't come with any instructions, so like, how do they expect us to learn how to write with them?' and making a spoof commercial where she instructed a young girl to 'write down a grocery list or even recipes for when you need to feed your man." Bic South Africa later apologized on Facebook for the Women's Day ad, noting that the quote was taken from a blog and was intended to be taken 'in the most empowering way possible and in no way derogatory towards women." Nivea's "White is purity" ad (2017): In 2017, German-based personal care company Nivea sparked backlash after posting a Facebook ad to promote their "Invisible for Black & White" deodorant, showing the back of a brown-haired, robe-clad woman overlaid with the words: "White is purity." The post caption stated, "Keep it clean, keep it bright. Don't let anything ruin it."The online backlash was immediate, with many claiming that the ad had overt tones of white supremacy, considering that the post was targeted at the brand's Middle Eastern following, writing, "Come on #Nivea. This is so racist that I do not even know where to begin. Speechless. In future, refer to clothes or products, not colors."The ad was also widely shared in alt-right online communities, with one account claiming: "#Nivea: the official moisturizer/anti-perspirant of the #AltRight."The ad was removed from the company's Facebook account after two days, and an apologetic statement was released: 'We are deeply sorry to anyone who may take offense to this specific post. Diversity and equal opportunity are crucial values of Nivea.'Speaking to the New York Times, a representative for the company explained that the campaign was targeted at Middle Eastern followers who would associate black with strength and white with purity. Popchips Ashton Kutcher as Raj commercial (2012): In 2012, Ashton Kutcher appeared in an ad for Popchips, where he appeared as four different people: a diva, a biker, a hippie, and a Bollywood producer, named Raj. Kutcher adopted an accent and appeared in brownface to play the character, who discusses his dating preferences, while making no reference to Popchips at any point. (At the time, the That '70s Show star was labeled as the brand's "president of pop culture.")Tech entrepreneur Anil Dash was a major critic, writing on his blog that the ad was "a hackneyed, unfunny advertisement featuring Kutcher in brownface talking about his romantic options, with the entire punchline being that he's doing it in a fake-Indian outfit and voice. That's it, there's seriously no other gag." He continued, "If you find yourself putting brown makeup on a white person in 2012 so they can do a bad 'funny' accent in order to sell potato chips, you are on the wrong course. Make some different decisions." Dash later noted that Keith Belling, CEO of Popchips, called him to extend a "sincere and contrite" apology. The ad was removed from the snack company's social media accounts, and a spokesperson issued an apology on the company's behalf, "The new Popchips worldwide dating parody featuring four characters was created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone. At Popchips we embrace all types of shapes, flavors and colors, and appreciate all snackers, no matter their race or ethnicity. We hope people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended." Burger King's "Women belong in the kitchen" tweet (2021): For International Women's Day in 2021, Burger King UK made a serious online blunder when they tweeted, "Women belong in the kitchen." Follow-up tweets announced that the statement was simply meant to grab users attention and promote the fast food chain's new scholarship, 'If they want to, of course. Yet only 20% of chefs are women. We're on a mission to change the gender ratio," and "We are proud to be launching a new scholarship programme which will help female Burger King employees pursue their culinary dreams."However, many social media users never made it past the sheer shock of seeing "Women belong in the kitchen" appear on their feed. With some writing, "Please don't use sexism as clickbait," and "There's better ways to draw attention to something that don't including using the most sexist trope ever."One commenter pointed out that the "sexist" tweet brought more publicity to the account, stating, "The engagement on your original tweet—which, again, is literally just a sexist trope—is 527% *higher* than the tweet announcing the scholarship program. Way more people are seeing you validate sexism on #InternationalWomensDay than are learning about your scholarship program."After spending the day issuing explanations, Burger King eventually removed the post and officially apologized, writing: "We hear you. We got our initial tweet wrong and we're sorry. Our aim was to draw attention to the fact that only 20% of professional chefs in UK kitchens are women and to help change that by awarding culinary scholarships. We will do better next time." Calvin Klein's Brooke Shields ad campaign (1980): When Brooke Shields's now-infamous Calvin Klein ad first aired in November 1980, it fueled a media frenzy. While there were many ads in the series shot by director Richard Avedon, the one that sparked the most backlash was when the then-15-year-old asked viewers, "Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing."That line scandalized American viewers, leading to the commercial being banned by ABC and CBS in New York, as well as other countries. In a 2021 Vogue interview, Shields recalled her reaction to the press's outrage, "I was away when they came out, and then I started hearing that the commercials were being banned. The paparazzi would scream at me and my mother, 'How could you!' It just struck me as so ridiculous.'The now-60-year-old noted that she never thought of the line as an innuendo, claiming, 'I didn't think it was about underwear or sexual in nature. I was naive. I think the assumption was that I was much more savvy than I ever really was. I was a virgin, and I was a virgin forever after that.' Despite the controversy, Shields maintains that she is still proud of the ad and its legacy, 'The controversy backfired. The campaign was extremely successful, and then the underwear overtook the jeans.'She doubled down on her support for the campaign in a March 2023 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, telling Colbert, "It was a phrase. It wasn't 'I'm not wearing underwear' or 'come' wasn't spelled differently, it was c-o-m-e, I was like, 'What's the problem?'" She proceeded to call the ensuing backlash "ludicrous." Can you think of any other ad campaigns that encountered backlash from the public? Tell us in the comments below!
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sydney Sweeney critics compare jeans campaign to Brooke Shields' Calvin Klein ad
Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle campaign is not only sparking controversy. It's giving fans a case of pop culture déjà vu. The "Euphoria" star's collaboration with the clothing brand has been drawing criticism for its double entendre-laden tagline, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." In one of the campaign videos, a reclining Sweeney buttons up her jeans as the camera pans up her body and she speaks in a matter-of-fact tone, saying "genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue." Some critics have argued that an allusion to "great genes" in an ad featuring a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman felt like a reference to eugenics, the discredited belief that the human population can be improved through selective breeding. Aside from its questionable marketing, the jeans campaign is also earning scrutiny for its alleged similarities to Brooke Shields' 1980 Calvin Klein ad, which drew controversy for its perceived sexual tone. Sydney Sweeney controversy: Why actress's jeans ad is ruffling feathers Why was Brooke Shields' Calvin Klein ad controversial? At the time of Shields' ad, the campaign sparked controversy by having the then-15-year-old model recite the ambiguous brand tagline: "You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." Shields told Vogue in October 2021 that she thought the backlash, which centered on the alleged sexualization of an underage Shields, was "ridiculous." "I was naive, I didn't think anything of it. I didn't think it had to do with underwear, I didn't think it was sexual in nature. I would say it about my sister, 'Nobody can come between me and my sister,' " she explained. The actress also recalled being shocked that she was being "berated" by the public, who assumed she knew the intention behind the commercials. "I think the assumption is that I was much more savvy than I ever really was." Brooke Shields auctions Calvin Klein jeans from controversial ad Sydney Sweeney ad divides internet with Brooke Shields comparison Some users on social media compared the style of Sweeney's American Eagle campaign to the sexual controversy of Shields' Calvin Klein ad. "That Sydney Sweeney ad 😬 and finding out it's referencing an ad that sexualized 15-year-old Brooke Shields😬😬," @naledimashishi wrote on X. "Are they legitimately referencing that super inappropriate sexual commercial of Brooke Shields, who was like 15 years old at the time?" wrote @nanauzumakiii, also citing the campaign's partnership with nonprofit Crisis Text Line. "They're referencing a commercial that took advantage of a minor to raise money for domestic violence victims?" "Very uncomfortable. Clearly referencing the Brooke Shields CK ad. She was 15 in that," @lazysusansontag commented. "This doesn't feel sensual or sexy, but rather it's a voyeur of the idea of sex. This is not even artistic or original. It's just. Bad." Meanwhile, other commenters downplayed the fashion controversy, with some chalking up the backlash to political differences. "In 1980, our world was shattered by this Calvin Klein jeans commercial starring Brooke Shields," @JebraFaushay wrote on X. "Just kidding, no one batted an eye or cried about eugenics like they are now." "Whatever you do, do not — and I repeat, do not — share Brooke Shields' Calvin Klein Jeans ad from 1980. It might just send liberals over the edge," @ImMeme0 wrote. "Where did American Eagle get the idea for Sydney Sweeney's commercial? They copied it," @Nance726 commented. "This is Calvin Klein and Brooke Shields in the '80s … and nobody freaked out." Contributing: Nicole Fallert and Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Sydney Sweeney's jeans advert criticised for ‘sexualising' domestic abuse awareness
Sydney Sweeney has been criticised over a 'sexualised' jeans advert raising awareness about domestic violence. The White Lotus star has faced a backlash for her American Eagle Jeans advert, which pays tribute to her 'great genes' while the camera zooms in on her breasts and bottom. Critics have also suggested it inappropriately pays homage to a controversial advertising campaign by 15-year-old Brooke Shields from the 1980s. However, others have praised it for taking on 'woke advertising'. Earlier this year, Jaguar-Land Rover was criticised following a controversial brand relaunch that drew criticism for being too 'woke'. The marque ditched its iconic big cat logo and opted for a pink hue, in a move that some customers said made them feel alienated. And in 2023, Bud Light was boycotted en masse after employing transgender model Dylan Mulvaney to advertise its beer. The outrage wiped around $20bn (£15.75bn) off the value of parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev. According to American Eagle, the purchase price of the jeans will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a charity offering confidential mental health services. The trousers also feature a 'butterfly motif on the back pocket of [which] represents domestic violence awareness,' American Eagle's press release stated, according to the Independent. The Sweeney advert begins with the 27-year-old telling viewers: 'I'm not here to tell you to buy American Eagle jeans,' as she leans forward in her chair while the camera lingers on her chest. 'And I definitely won't say they're the most comfortable jeans I've ever worn, or that they make your butt look amazing,' she continues, with the camera zooming in on her bottom as she walks over to a mirror. 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,' reads the tagline that flashes up on the screen, before the actress adds: 'See what I did there, right?' Sweeney courted controversy when in May she announced she would sell soap made out of her bathwater because her fans 'wouldn't stop asking for it'. Some suggested her advert paid homage to Brooke Shields' controversial Calvin Klein adverts from the 1980s, which also plays on the genes/jeans pun. It begins with the child star pulling off her glasses and telling viewers: 'The secret of life lies hidden in the genetic code.' The actress, whose mother allowed her to pose nude for Playboy aged 10, then pulls on a pair of jeans while lying on the floor, talking about 'selective mating, in which a single gene type proves superior in transmitting its genes to future generations'. In another of the adverts, she says: 'You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.' Similarly, in another clip for the same campaign, Ms Sweeney says: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour.' The camera then pans to her eyes, and she says: 'My jeans are blue.' Online critics of the Sweeney advert have even suggested the campaign by the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress talking about her genes was 'Nazi propaganda'. Robby Soave, a commentator with The Hill, called the claim 'stupid' as he defended the Euphoria star on social media. ' Sydney Sweeney is doing fascist propaganda, and if you like her, you're a fascist too... is quite possibly the stupidest, most-likely-to-backfire liberal overreach social media pile-on in the history of the internet,' he said. Sabrina Carpenter, the singer, last month changed the cover art for her 'Man's Best Friend' album to a 'God approved' version after critics said the original was overly sexualised.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Iconic 80s teen heartthrob who starred in scandalous film alongside Brooke Shields is seen on rare outing
This actor and occasional model was pictured out in Connecticut on a rare outing this week. He is best known for costarring with Brooke Shields in an iconic film from the early 1980s. The movie struck up controversy that has endured for decades due to its copious nudity and the fact that Shields was only 14 when she worked on the production. This star, who is now 64, later played up his image by posing nude in Playgirl just a couple years later. Since then he has remained prolific with a variety of film roles and guest parts on television, including a reunion with Shields nearly two decades after they first worked together. Can you guess who this '80s actor is? He's Blue Lagoon star Christopher Atkins. Atkins, who was born in New York in 1961, tends to fly under the radar, but he was pictured in a rare sighting in Southport, Connecticut, earlier this week. He was seen running errands around town, which included a stop at a gas station to fill up. The '80s heartthrob looked as if he was dressed for a day at the beach with a gray–green tank top and gray floral-patterned Hawaiian-style cargo shorts, along with beige flip flops. He still sported his recognizable blond hair, though it had faded to the point that it was almost a platinum shade now. Atkins and Shields starred in 1980's Blue Lagoon as a pair of children who are shipwrecked on a remote island. After the only adult to survive with them dies, they are left alone to find for themselves. The children grow up and eventually become lovers on the island, which is inhabited by indigenous people that they steer clear of. Shields was only 14 at the time, so a body double performed her nude scenes. But Atkins was 18 and did his own full-frontal nude scenes. Critics savaged Blue Lagoon but it was a hit at the box office Despite his boyish looks, Atkins was 18 at the time filming began, but Shields was only 14. As a result, her numerous nude scenes were filmed by an adult body double, but Atkins performed his own nude scenes. Still, critics and audiences were alike were scandalized by the story — in which Atkins and Shields' characters are cousins — and Shields' young age. Although she isn't pictured in the nude, Shields still performed topless on set, though sometimes with her hair glued to her chest. Critics savaged The Blue Lagoon, but it was a hit at the box office, where it reportedly grossed $58.8 million in North America along against a budget of just $4.5 million. But Blue Lagoon's box office success didn't translate to major roles for Atkins, possibly because of the critical disdain for the film. He followed it up with voice roles in the English-language dubs of Japanese anime adaptations of Swan Lake and Aladdin And The Magic Lamp in 1981 and 1982, respectively. In 1982 he made the risky move to pose nude in Playgirl, which may have made it hard for audiences to separate him from Blue Lagoon's reputation. The same year, he had a lead role in The Pirate Movie, an Australian musical loosely based on Gilbert and Sullivan's classic opera The Pirates Of Penzance. The movie didn't change his fortunes, though, as critics again lambasted the movie, and it barely made back its budget. Atkins got a more high-profile role as a recurring character on Dallas for a year beginning in 1983, but since then he appeared almost exclusively in low-budget films in supporting roles. Atkins married the Australian model Lyn Barron in 1985, and they share two children. Although he continued to act throughout the decade, it was the least productive period of his career, and in 2009 he told People that he struggled with alcoholism while also battling a career recession at the time. He ended up going to rehab during the decade, but he boasted of being sober for more than two decades at the time. He had a brief return to prominence in 1999, when he reunited with Shields on her sitcom Suddenly Susan for an episode. Atkins also had a small role in the 2012 TV movie Blue Lagoon: The Awakening, which was a present-day remake of the earlier film. Although he never gave up his love of acting, Atkins later took up additional trades as a swimming pool builder and a fishing lure designer In 2022, he reunited with Shields for her podcast, in which they discussed the controversial nudity on Blue Lagoon. After joking about Atkins' on-set nudity, Shields remembered thinking, 'Why do I have to look at this? I'd never seen one before. I'm not going to start now' Two years later, Atkins scored another high-profile TV guest spot on an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Although his other film projects have remained small scale, he has stayed impressive busy, and he currently has five projects that are completed or in post-production, according to IMDb. Although he never gave up his love of acting, Atkins later took up additional trades as a swimming pool builder and a fishing lure designer. In 2022, he reunited again with Shields for her podcast Now What?, in which they discussed the controversial nudity on Blue Lagoon. After joking about how often he was nude on set, Shields remembered thinking, 'Why do I have to look at this? I'd never seen one before. I'm not going to start now.' She added that members of the production 'wanted so desperately for us to fall in love with each other,' but that wasn't going to happen, as 'even kissed anybody.' Atkins replied: 'Which was probably great for the film because that's what it was all about. You have to admit the chemistry between us was just amazing.' The actor recently relieved his glory days when he graced the cover of Playgirl's July 2025 issue, 43 years after he first posed for the magazine.
