Sydney Sweeney has responded to criticism surrounding her recent sports betting advertisement for Novig by sharing images of other athletes who have posed nude for ESPN's Body Issue.
Sweeney posted a series of images on her Instagram Stories featuring athletes such as Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jason Kelce, who appeared in various editions of ESPN's Body Issue, often with minimal or no clothing.
The "Euphoria" star's own ad for Novig, a sports betting site, featured her posing with sports equipment like footballs, shoulder pads, basketballs, and a tennis racket to cover her body. The ad sparked backlash from several female athletes, who felt it sexualized sports and was a disservice to their athletic achievements.
British sprinter Amy Hunt commented on the ad, stating, "Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like. 21.4. Muscles. Hard work, blood, sweat, tears. This is a beautiful evening." American gymnast Gracie Kramer also shared a montage of her training, captioning it, "I don’t know what Sydney Sweeney was doing, but this is what women in sport look like."
Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus expressed her disappointment, writing on Instagram, "Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who has dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but every woman who enjoys sports for what it really is. How do we live in a world where monetising a woman’s body and sexualising women’s sport is still a thing?"
This is not the first time Sweeney has faced public scrutiny for an advertisement. Earlier, an American Eagle ad featuring the actress also drew controversy, with some claiming it echoed "pseudoscientific language of racial superiority."