Dunkin Donuts’ new summer ad starring The Summer I Turned Pretty actor Gavin Casalegno has left many disappointed, and all because of one word: genetics. The outrage comes on the heels of Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ‘Perfect Genes’ campaign, which was slammed for glorifying white traits and pushing Nazi propaganda. In a July 29 press release, Dunkin’ described the new spot as “a playful social video titled ‘King of Summer,’” led by Casalegno, who had earlier featured in their “Not Just a Snack” campaign.
Dunkin in hot water for new ad featuring Gavin Casalegno
In the 30-second commercial, Casalegno, who plays Jeremiah in Amazon Prime Video’s popular series, is seen lounging by a pool, sipping a drink, shirt open, showing off a tan. He says to the camera, “Look, I didn’t ask to be the king of summer. It just happened. This tan? Genetics.” He then adds he got a “colour analysis” that confirmed he’s a “golden summer, literally.”
“I can’t help it; every time I drink a Dunkin’ Golden Hour Refresher, it’s like the sun just finds me,” he continues in the ad. “So if sipping these refreshers makes me the king of summer? Guilty as charged.” Earlier in its press statement, the brand said, “Casalegno now claims his crown, a playful nod to his effortlessly sunny energy and the golden glow of his order: the Golden Hour Refresher,” without digging into the details.
People called the ad weirdly obsessed with white features. One TikTok user wrote, “It’s giving white is right, yeah no.” Another asked, “What’s the link between coffee and genetics?” Some even pointed out the actor’s blue eyes, just like Sydney Sweeney’s, which once again stirred up talk around stereotyped perfect traits. Others dragged Dunkin’, saying most of its stores are run by brown people, and this ad sends the opposite message. Casalegno, for his part, had said, “There’s just something about a summer sunset that makes everything feel a little better, and Dunkin’s Golden Hour Refresher really captures that vibe. It’s refreshing and kind of just lifts your mood. I’ve been a Dunkin’ fan for years, so teaming up again is such a fun way to celebrate summer.”
This new controversy comes just days after Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign caused global uproar, with the brand stepping in to explain their goal was meant to support domestic violence prevention, claiming proceeds would go to a nonprofit. In her ad, she says, “Genes are passed down… my jeans are blue,” playing on the word ‘genes’ and ‘jeans’. But despite the brand’s attempt to tone things down, people weren’t convinced, especially with no real explanation for how the delivery came off as low-key pushing “racial superiority,” with not-so-subtle nods to eugenics and “ideal traits” like blonde hair and blue eyes.
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So now, with Gavin’s Dunkin’ ad dropping right after Sweeney’s, people are starting to see a pattern. Some online are even wondering if both brands used the same agency. Then there’s the other side of the internet, calling the backlash just another case of “liberals overreacting” or people being “too sensitive.” A few even mocked the whole Sweeney-Dunkin drama, saying things like, “Dunkin’ just sent the left into a full breakdown,” or “Don’t show this ad to the libs, they’re about to lose it again.”
Recently, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung weighed in on the American Eagle backlash and dismissed the entire reaction as “warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking,” adding that this is exactly why Americans voted the way they did in 2024.
