Bill Maher Mocks ‘Woke’ Backlash Over Sydney Sweeney’s Jeans Pun
On HBO Real Time last Friday Bill Maher ridiculed the so-called woke crowd for branding Sydney Sweeney a white supremacist over a playful jeans-vs-genes pun.
Hi there, Avery Sinclair checking in with your dose of reality. Another day, another outrage festival – can’t wait to break this one down.
Bill Maher took aim at social media activists on his July 28 HBO Real Time segment when he highlighted the sudden uproar over Sydney Sweeney’s new American Eagle “Great Jeans” ad. The Euphoria star, decked out head-to-toe in blue denim, quipped that she has “blue eyes” and “great genes,” playing on the jeans/genes homonym. According to Maher, that harmless pun somehow turned Sweeney into a villain for the woke mob.
“In other uncomfortable racial news, sad news, we found out this week that Sydney Sweeney is a Nazi,” Maher joked, citing the online backlash. He then leaned into the absurdity: “No she’s not, but you’ve seen the ad … there she is dressed like Jay Leno in all blue denim.” With a smirk, he reminded viewers she’s just a 27-year-old actress who happens to be blonde-haired and blue-eyed – hardly the traits of a white supremacist, but apparently enough for a handful of Twitter critics.
Maher didn’t stop there. He pointed out the even more ridiculous angle that Sweeney’s bra size – 36KKK – was somehow evidence of extremist leanings, and teased that she named her chest accessories the “Proud Boys.” That double pun earned an approving laugh track from his studio audience.
“It also doesn’t help that her bra size is 36KKK and that the name she gave her tits is the Proud Boys,” he quipped. “I also like how all the online social justice girls say ‘there is no such thing as good genes.’ Right, and then you go on Tinder and swipe left on every bald guy.”
Maher’s savage takedown highlights just how far a trivial marketing pun can be stretched by online outrage machines. American Eagle, meanwhile, has little to complain about: their stock jumped over 10 percent the day after Sweeney’s campaign launched on July 23, proving that even controversy can be good for business.
Sweeney herself has remained silent amid the noise, opting not to engage with the accusations that she’s secretly broadcasting white supremacist dog whistles from her denim throne. Maybe she’s busy filming her next HBO show or stocking up on even more pairs of jeans.
That’s it for today’s reckoning with outrage culture.
And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, HBO Real Time
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
