Sydney Sweeney's German Shepherd Labeled 'Nazi Pet' Amidst 'Great Jeans' Ad Controversy
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Online criticism has intensified around actress Sydney Sweeney, with her German Shepherd, Sully Bear, becoming the latest target, labeled a "Nazi pet" by some social media users. This backlash stems from a broader controversy surrounding Sweeney's recent American Eagle advertising campaign, which critics allege contains "dog whistles" related to eugenics and white supremacy. The tweet from "Publius" highlighted this escalating "woke outrage," questioning the intense scrutiny directed at the actress.
The core of the controversy originated from American Eagle's "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" campaign. The ad featured Sweeney stating, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour," before concluding, "My jeans are blue." This wordplay on "jeans" and "genes" led many to accuse the campaign of subtly promoting eugenic ideals and white beauty standards, drawing comparisons to historical propaganda. American Eagle has consistently defended the campaign, asserting that it "is and always was about the jeans."
Amidst the ongoing debate, Sweeney's rescue German Shepherd, Sully Bear, introduced in April 2024, has been drawn into the fray. Critics online have branded the dog with terms such as "Nazi pet" and "Swastika Sweeney," linking the breed to its historical association with Nazi Germany and figures like Adolf Hitler. Despite the German Shepherd's widespread recognition as a loyal and intelligent working dog and family companion, its historical use by the Nazi regime has been weaponized in the current online discourse.
The controversy has garnered reactions from various quarters, including political figures like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, who have publicly supported Sweeney and the ad, framing the criticism as "cancel culture" or "excessive political correctness." While the ad reportedly boosted American Eagle's stock value, Sweeney herself has remained largely silent on the matter. Sully Bear, a prominent presence on Sweeney's social media, has even appeared at events like the Met Gala afterparty and on magazine covers.