Recognize the anchor in the latest Old Navy News ad? Meet Amanda McCants, the viral comedian behind Crystal Claire. We explore her role and the satire behind the campaign.
Old Navy has always treated us well, as we know. In the past, the brand has consistently involved high-profile personalities in its advertisements, always offering entertaining formats that stick in the mind. Do you remember Jennifer Coolidge? Or Natasha Lyonne? Or more recently, the appearance of Lindsay Lohan in fitness gear? Every time, Old Navy seems to hit the mark. And the advertising campaign featuring the new news anchor is already achieving its hoped-for success.
But who is Crystal Claire, the face of the Old Navy news anchor commercial? We need to find out more about the actress who plays her, Amanda McCants, how she came to be chosen by Old Navy, and why this commercial works so well. Let’s take it one step at a time.
But before we begin, here is one of the Old Navy News commercials airing in 2025 and 2026.
Who is Amanda McCants? From TikTok to Old Navy
Yes, the actress playing Crystal Claire in the Old Navy News commercial is the influencer and model Amanda McCants.
Amanda has been famous on the internet for years, primarily as a content creator on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. She possesses a personality that easily captivates her audience, succeeding not only because of her physical appearance but also due to the cleverness with which she interacts on social media. Her channels are a mix of hilarious sketches and personal insights that easily brighten the day of users looking for a few minutes of mindless relaxation.
On her YouTube channel, you can enjoy her series of “types of people” sketches, which she performs as a personal commentary on modern society. Alongside her comedic career, Amanda McCants is also a model and has already held several acting roles in films and short movies. It is often said of her that it’s simply “unfair” how she can be both sexy and intelligent at the same time.
Amanda McCants, therefore, was not born a traditional actress but became one as a talented and versatile entertainment personality. And since she already commands a massive following, what better choice could there be for a humorous campaign like Old Navy’s?
Crystal Claire: The Anatomy of a News Satire
Now, let’s talk about the character of Crystal Claire. Her name is a clever play on words (it sounds like “crystal clear,” an expression that conveys certainty, transparency, and reliability). She is, of course, beautiful and charming, which certainly doesn’t hurt in the role of a news anchor. She manages to command the spotlight effortlessly, holding the audience’s attention without it ever seeming forced. Furthermore, she possesses a range of facial expressions that would be the envy of seasoned comedians.
There is a profound seriousness in her delivery, all concentrated on the “big deals” offered by Old Navy. These offers are presented with a professional and solemn tone that practically demands everyone’s undivided attention. Are you starting to see why this format works so well?
Why the “News” Format Works: A Masterclass in Authority and Subversion
The choice to present an advertisement as a news broadcast has a perfectly logical marketing foundation. Psychologically, we are conditioned to view news anchors as serious, reliable, and authoritative figures. This is a classic application of Authority Bias: we are far less likely to doubt information when it is delivered through a format we’ve been trained to trust since childhood.
This serves as the “hook” Old Navy utilized for its news-style commercial. When we see two anchors behind a desk, our brains experience what marketers call a “pattern interrupt.” After a string of traditional, flashy commercials, the visual language of a newsroom—the lower-third graphics, the formal lighting, and the professional attire—tricks the viewer into thinking the commercial break has ended. In those first few seconds, our mental “ad-blockers” drop, and we lend the screen our full attention to see what “important” news is breaking.
However, once the attention is captured, the ad quickly shifts gears. This is where Amanda McCants steals the scene. She moves the narrative into a lighthearted, comedic space, acting as a “relatable rebel” against the rigid formality of the news anchors. By placing a popular social media personality in a “legacy” news setting, Old Navy effectively bridges a generational gap—blending the traditional authority of TV news with the high-energy, viral humor of TikTok-style content. We feel less like we are being “sold to” and more like we are in on a joke.
Strategically, the ad remains incredibly clever by what it doesn’t say. While we are left wondering what these “big deals” actually are, the anchors never specify prices or dates. This lack of detail implies that great discounts at Old Navy aren’t just a fleeting event—they are a permanent state of being. By shifting from a “sale pitch” to a “brand identity,” Old Navy creates an evergreen campaign. The ad stays relevant for months without needing updates, successfully transforming a routine retail message into a piece of memorable, psychological theater.
The Influencer Cross-Over: Why Amanda McCants?
The choice of Amanda McCants for a mainstream Old Navy campaign is a calculated move that mirrors the broader shift in the 2025 media landscape. Primarily, it reflects the transformation of the entertainment world we’ve witnessed recently: TikTok has become the ultimate reference model, a new blueprint for engagement. Consequently, advertisements are starting to adopt its communication style, and brands are increasingly selecting spokespeople who are already fluent in that digital language.
Brands are no longer just hiring actors; they are hiring “languages.” By casting Amanda, Old Navy isn’t just buying a face; they are importing a specific style of satirical, high-energy communication that her millions of followers already trust.
This creates what we call a “Dual-Sided Audience Bridge”. On one side, the legacy Old Navy customer (perhaps a Gen X parent) sees the familiar news desk and feels comfortable, but is introduced to a new kind of vibrant, modern energy. On the other side, the Gen Z or Millennial fan sees a creator they recognize from their “For You Page” occupying a high-budget, “serious” space. This signals that the brand is “in on the joke” and understands their world.
Amanda’s performance as the news anchor is a masterclass in character psychology. She plays the role with a wink—embodying the youthful, chaotic energy of the internet while wearing the uniform of traditional authority. She becomes the human symbol of a cultural crossover: someone who can navigate a corporate commercial without losing their authentic, digital “soul.”
In short, the Old Navy News commercial managed to break through to all generations simultaneously: and suddenly, we are all Amanda McCants.
FAQ: Behind the “Old Navy News” Desk
Who exactly is Amanda McCants, and why does she look so familiar?
If you feel like you’ve seen her before, you likely have—just not on TV. Amanda is a viral creator known for her “satirical blonde” sketches on TikTok and Instagram, where she often plays heightened, slightly chaotic characters. Old Navy’s approach here is intentional: they cast her because her existing fans already associate her with this specific brand of high-energy comedy. She isn’t playing a character for Old Navy; she is bringing her internet persona into the Old Navy world.
Are the other news anchors real journalists?
No, they are actors. However, they are styled and directed to mimic the exact cadence and “stiffness” of local news anchors. This is where the Authority Bias we discussed comes into play. By using professional-looking “news-style” actors, the ad creates a psychological trick that makes you stop scrolling or look up from your phone, thinking you’re about to hear a breaking news bulletin.
Why don’t they ever say the actual prices of the “Big Deals”?
This is a brilliant “evergreen” strategy. By using vague terms like “Big Deals” or “Huge Savings,” Old Navy can run the same commercial for months—or even years—without it becoming outdated. It transforms the brand from a place that has a specific sale today into a brand that is the permanent home of savings. It’s less about a transaction and more about a feeling.
Is this part of a bigger trend in the advertising?
Yes. Old Navy has a history of “crowdsourcing” their ads. A few years ago, they launched a campaign called “Written by the Internet,” where they literally turned TikTok comments into scripts. The “Old Navy News” format is the evolution of that—it’s a commercial built for the “comment section” generation, designed to be memed, shared, and recognized by people who live on their phones.
Where were these commercials filmed?
While they look like a high-tech newsroom in New York or LA, these sets are usually built in specialized commercial studios. The goal is to look “generic” enough to represent any news station in America, making the ad feel local and relevant to everyone, no matter where they are watching.
Who is the male anchor in the Old Navy News commercial, Frank Lee Wright?
The polished, quintessential newsman “Frank Lee Wright” is played by actor Dan Donohue. Unlike Amanda McCants, who comes from the world of viral social media skits, Dan Donohue is a veteran of traditional stage and screen (including extensive work with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and roles in series like For All Mankind).
His name, “Frank Lee Wright,” is a clever double-entendre: it is both a nod to the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright and a play on the phrase “Frankly Right”—subtly reinforcing the idea that the “news” he is delivering about Old Navy deals is the honest, absolute truth.
