Dunkin’ released a new Golden Hour Refresher ad featuring actor Gavin Casalegno lounging by a pool, declaring:
“This tan? Genetics. I just got my color analysis back… guess what? Golden summer.”
While it appears meant to be lighthearted, many viewers jumped to interpret the line as reinforcing Eurocentric beauty ideals, especially coming in the wake of the backlash against American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney “genes/jeans” campaign.
Social media users quickly voiced their displeasure: comments like “Why are ads so obsessed with genetics?” and “What in the Sydney Sweeney did I just watch?” went viral.
On Reddit and TikTok, critics referred to the ad as tone-deaf and culturally tone-averse, while others defended it as harmless summer marketing. As of now, neither Dunkin’ nor Casalegno has issued an official response
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