A new parody video featuring Katie Couric has responded to the recent, and somewhat controversial, American Eagle ad campaign starring Sydney Sweeney.
Earlier this year, 28-year-old Sydney faced criticism after appearing in a denim brand advertisement. The campaign focused on her “great jeans,” which some people interpreted as promoting eugenics and far-right ideas. The brand has responded by saying the campaign was simply about the jeans themselves.
The commercial inspired Katie to create a new public service announcement encouraging people to get regular colorectal cancer screenings.
The latest video from the colon cancer non-profit, Lead From Behind, strongly echoes its previous campaign, even opening with a direct nod to it.
The scene opens with 68-year-old Katie lying in a hospital bed, wearing an open denim shirt in a way that’s reminiscent of Sydney, as she gets ready for a colonoscopy.
She started talking about genes, and mentioned that most people who get colon cancer don’t inherit a tendency to develop it.
‘That’s why doctors recommend everyone 45 and over get checked,’ she says. ‘Mine are televised.’
Katie nervously waited for her exam to begin, and the doctors prepared for the procedure. One doctor politely asked the camera crew to give them some space.
‘No,’ Katie, who famously underwent a colonoscopy on live television, replies.
As someone who really believes in proactive health, I noticed a moment that reminded me of those classic American Eagle ads – only this time, it was about getting screened for health issues! The message was clear, delivered with a striking teal font and a voiceover: Katie Couric prioritizes regular screenings, and honestly, if you’re 45 or older, you absolutely should be too. It’s such an important reminder that taking care of your health is a lifelong commitment.
The ad reminded one person of a similar campaign in Sydney, leading them to comment: ‘I love this! Katie Couric is a fantastic role model. Does anyone else think it feels like something from American Eagle?’
Lead From Behind, a group created with help from Ryan Reynolds and his Maximum Effort team, simply responded with ‘Wink Wink’.
Katie has a personal connection to this disease, as she lost her first husband, Jay Monahan III, to it in 1998 when he was only 42 years old.
I’ve always admired Katie Couric, and I was so saddened to learn about all the cancer she’s faced, both personally and through her family. It was heartbreaking to hear about her sister passing away from pancreatic cancer at just 54. Then, in 2022, she bravely shared her own breast cancer diagnosis, which really struck me. It’s clear this disease has touched her life in deeply personal ways, and I have so much respect for her openness about it.
Katie and Jay had been married for nine years at the time of his death.
She opened up about her husbands last days in a 2021 interview on The Today Show.
It broke my heart seeing Jay, and I was terrified of him losing hope. I just couldn’t bear the thought of him spending his remaining time simply anticipating the end, instead of truly *living* it. I wanted him to fight, to find joy, anything but just wait.
Facing death takes incredible bravery, and if I’m honest, I was simply too afraid.
She also wrote about those moments in her 2021 memoir Going There.
Couric explained she did all she could to save Jay’s life, but now feels she could have better supported him in his final moments.
After her husband Monahan passed away, Katie started Stand Up to Cancer and the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health. She has also worked tirelessly to raise public awareness about colorectal cancer.
Becoming a grandmother made me think about my husband, Jay, who would have loved to see this. My daughters have reached big milestones like graduating college, and it’s heartbreaking he isn’t here to share them. That’s why I’m so passionate about my ‘Lead From Behind’ campaign – I want to prevent other families from experiencing that same loss. I often think about Jay and others like him, and I feel a strong duty to use what I’ve learned to potentially save lives.
Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., affecting both men and women. Sadly, actor Chadwick Boseman was one of its victims, passing away at just 43 years old.
In March 2000, Katie underwent a colonoscopy on television to highlight how important it is to get screened for potential health issues.
At the time of Jay’s death, Couric said focusing on her work kept her grounded, per Today.
‘Working was my salvation,’ Couric said.
When I was on TV cooking, I needed to focus on that and not worry about the recent news about Jay’s health. It was essential for my own well-being.
Couric healed and found love again with banker John Molner, whom she married in 2014.
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2025-09-25 21:49