Katie Couric Spoofs Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Ad to Push Colon Cancer Screenings

Veteran journalist Katie Couric is once again stepping in front of the camera for a colonoscopy, but this time, she's bringing the laughs. Couric stars in a new public service announcement (PSA) from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and Maximum Effort, injecting humor into the vital message of cancer prevention.

The PSA is the latest installment in the "Lead From Behind" campaign, a series known for making cancer prevention surprisingly entertaining. Couric joins a roster of celebrities including Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, Terry Crews, and Dak Prescott, all leveraging their star power to encourage life-saving screenings.

In a clever twist, the new spot playfully spoofs Sydney Sweeney's recent American Eagle campaign. "Speaking of genes, did you know that the majority of people who develop colon cancer are not genetically predisposed to the disease?" Couric quips, sporting a denim jacket, in a nod to Sweeney's "has great jeans" tagline.

Ryan Reynolds, co-founder of Maximum Effort, expressed the personal significance of the campaign. "The mission of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is very near to my heart. And my ass," Reynolds stated. "When Rob Mac and I broadcast our colonoscopies to help launch 'Lead From Behind,' we were following in the brave footsteps Katie took 25 years ago. So to have her work with Maximum Effort on the latest initiative is a real full-starfish moment for me."

Indeed, this project marks a poignant full-circle moment for Couric. A quarter-century ago, she famously televised her own colonoscopy on the "Today" show, a groundbreaking move that helped demystify a once-taboo subject. Her first husband, Jay Monahan, tragically died of colorectal cancer in 1998 at the age of 42. Now, Couric is putting a lighter spin on the same critical message, aiming to reach a younger generation and underscore that colon cancer is not solely a concern for their parents.

The urgency behind the campaign is undeniable. Colorectal cancer stands as the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., with an alarming one in 24 Americans expected to receive a diagnosis. Projections indicate that by 2030, it will become the top cancer killer for individuals under 50. Through Couric's renewed advocacy and a healthy dose of humor, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance hopes to inspire more people to view the simple act of scheduling a screening as the most impactful punchline of all.