When Dunkin’ tapped The Summer I Turned Pretty heartthrob Gavin Casalegno for its new Golden Hour Refresher ad, the brand was clearly banking on his sun-kissed abs and Gen Z charm.
Instead, they accidentally lit the internet on fire.
Lounging poolside, Casalegno smirked, “This tan? – Genetics.” He doubled down by bragging about his “golden summer” color analysis — all while sipping a neon-orange sugar bomb.
Cute? Maybe. Problematic? Oh, definitely. This whole Gavin Casalegno Dunkin affair had people talking nonstop.
Sydney Sweeney’s Denim Drama 2.0
Social media didn’t waste a second dragging Dunkin’ into the same mess that nearly buried American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney campaign just weeks ago.
That one, you’ll remember, proudly declared, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” which critics pounced on as a wink-wink nod to “great genes.”
Suddenly, Sweeney’s playful denim ad was accused of trafficking in eugenics undertones. Now, Casalegno’s “genetics” schtick feels like déjà vu — and people are calling it a copy-paste controversy.
Word Salad or Dog Whistle?
Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit lit up with comments calling the Dunkin’ spot a “word salad” and a “desperate DNA flex.” Others drew sharper knives: “First Sydney’s ‘genes,’ now Gavin’s ‘genetics’? Are brands trolling us or pandering to the anti-woke crowd?”
Dunkin’ Digs In — and So Do the Culture Warriors
Dunkin’ insists it’s all “playful fun.” Casalegno himself said the Golden Hour Refresher “captures the sunset vibe” and “lifts your mood.”
But that explanation isn’t cutting it. Online, conservatives are crowning the ad a win for “non-woke culture.” Comments like “The libs are losing their weak minds” and “Finally, a brand that gets it” are everywhere.
Even political operatives — remember when Steven Cheung defended Sweeney’s ad as “moronic backlash”? — are back, doubling down on the “culture war in denim and Dunkin’.”
As the spotlight continues on Gavin Casalegno and his involvement with Dunkin, the debate rages on.
