Columnist Criticizes Outrage Over Sydney Sweeney Ad, Contrasts With Trans Athlete Debate
Jennifer Sey argues that criticism of Sweeney's ad is hypocritical and politically motivated, while the debate over men in women's sports receives less attention.
Actress Sydney Sweeney has drawn criticism for an advertisement featuring her topless while holding footballs for the sports betting app Novig. While a number of female athletes have voiced their displeasure, citing concerns about the objectification of women's bodies and the impact on women's sports, columnist Jennifer Sey argues that the backlash is hypocritical and politically driven.
Gracie Kramer, a former UCLA gymnast, posted a training montage, stating, "idk what Sydney Sweeney was doing, but this is what a woman in sports looks like." Kramer suggested that female athletes are often over-sexualized and struggle to be taken seriously, claiming Sweeney's ad "marketed through the male gaze." Sey countered that Novig is marketing a betting app for men, not women's sports, and that Kramer's assertion that women need to undress to prove their place in sports is misguided.
Surfer Felicity Palmateer also called Sweeney's ad "very damaging" for girls entering sports. Sey questioned this sentiment, pointing out that the inclusion of male athletes in women's categories in sports like surfing is also damaging. She contrasted the outrage over Sweeney's ad with instances of nudity or provocative imagery involving figures like Lizzo, Dylan Mulvaney, and Sabrina Carpenter, which have often been framed positively as body positivity or empowerment.
Sey suggests that the disproportionate outrage stems from Sweeney's perceived political alignment. "The difference is that Sweeney is right-coded — presumed Republican-adjacent if not MAGA," Sey wrote. She argues that those who embrace 'sex work' and 'girlboss entrepreneurship' are quick to condemn when the individual in question might have different political views.
The columnist also brought up broader issues, such as men undergoing feminization surgery or altering their bodies to appear more feminine, which she described as commodifying women's bodies. Sey asserted that Sweeney is not mocking female athletes, stealing records, or displacing women from sports, but rather selling a product. She concluded that the criticism of Sweeney is not feminism but "hypocrisy — and naked factionalism."