When Mimicry Doesn’t Equal Mastery

In this CreativeBloq article, Beyoncé’s Levi’s ad is praised as a tasteful homage to a 1950s laundromat spot. But to me, it felt more like a hyper-stylized replication—with little added narrative weight. Beyoncé, one of the world’s most powerful and polished performers, hardly evokes the blue-collar Americana aesthetic the brand leans on here.

It’s cinematic, sure. But is it fresh?

Why the American Eagle Spot Deserves More Credit

Meanwhile, American Eagle’s spot featuring Sydney Sweeney got slammed for being “tone-deaf” and “objectifying.” The campaign was accused of relying too heavily on a double entendre (“Sydney Sweeney has great jeans/genes”), but I saw something else: a clever, culturally fluent execution.

The script played with product love and winked at its own wink, using cheeky copy to center the jeans—not just the celebrity. It struck a balance between humor and sales-forward storytelling that feels rare in this era of ultra-safe brand work.

Anger as Amplification, Not Insight

Was it ragebait? Maybe. But not in a way that felt intentional or manipulative. Unlike brands that deliberately provoke for virality, this ad felt genuine—and still delivered massive earned media and visibility.

Too often, strong emotional reactions online are used to measure creative success or failure. But that removes critical thought from the equation. The internet got loud—but did it listen?

The Larger Creative Risk at Play

We should be cautious about applauding big-budget remakes while dismissing bold new creative. If safe, familiar concepts continue to be held up as the standard, we risk snuffing out originality before it even has a chance to resonate.

New ideas need breathing room. Even the slightly uncomfortable ones.

Final Take (I promise)

I’m standing up for the American Eagle ad. Not just because I thought it was clever and well-executed—but because it actually tried something new. It didn’t recycle nostalgia or hide behind celebrity—Sydney Sweeney’s charm simply amplified a smart concept that centered product.

In the end, isn’t that what great advertising is supposed to do?