Stephen Colbert Mocks “Overreaction” to Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Ad

(The Hollywood Reporter) – Even Stephen Colbert thinks the online uproar over Sydney Sweeney‘s American Eagle jeans ad is a bit much.

The Late Show host weighed in on the culture war controversy over the Euphoria star’s sultry ad, which makes a play on words comparing the sex symbol’s “genes” with the word “jeans.” The ad has been slammed by some online as a Nazi-like pro-eugenics racist propaganda, while others have cheered the company and actress for refusing to apologize in the wake of social media outrage, which many view as a bad-faith take on something that’s meant to be playful.

But Colbert — who recently learned his CBS series will come to end next year — seemed to find the matter rather silly when he laughingly weighed in Wednesday night (video below).

“I don’t want to alarm you, but the internet is mad about something,” Colbert said. “This time, it’s a commercial from American Eagle Outfitters starring Sydney Sweeney, take take a look.” Colbert played the clip. “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 … Now, some people look at this and they’re seeing something sinister, saying that the genes-jeans denim wordplay in an ad featuring a white blond woman means American Eagle could be promoting eugenics, white supremacy and Nazi propaganda. That might be a bit of an overreaction — although Hitler did briefly model for Mein Kampfort Fit Jeans.” Colbert added: “How do you say ‘badonk’ in German?”