Sydney Sweeney has seemingly responded to online criticism regarding her recent provocative advertisement for the sports trading app Novig. The actress shared a series of images on social media, including ESPN magazine covers that feature prominent athletes posing nude.
Sweeney, 29, posted a carousel of images on Instagram on Sunday, which included shots of herself smiling while covering her upper body with footballs. She also displayed magazine covers featuring nude athletes such as Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, and Caroline Wozniacki. She captioned the post, "It's gamedayyyy," and tagged the Novig platform.
The backlash intensified after Sweeney's involvement in the Novig campaign, where she appeared in a nearly nude video to launch the app. Critics accused her of sexualizing a male-dominated field, with one user stating, "As a former athlete and a woman who has personally experienced sexualized comments, I’m genuinely disgusted and deeply disappointed by this campaign. We’ve spent years fighting to be seen and respected for our talent, strength, and achievements-not reduced to our bodies."
Another user commented, "This is a slap in the face to every professional female athlete." Some also questioned the appropriateness of the ad for younger audiences. Sweeney defended the campaign, stating in a release to Variety that "The campaign was about embracing a fun idea. The concept is simple: cut through the noise and put the focus entirely on sports. The campaign brings that idea to life with confidence, humor and a playful edge."
This is not the first time Sweeney has faced scrutiny for her public image. Her role in the HBO series "Euphoria" and her promotional work for her lingerie brand, "Syrn," have also drawn criticism. Additionally, a recent campaign for American Eagle sparked debate, with some interpreting the tagline "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" as having racial undertones, an interpretation Sweeney's representatives have not directly addressed, though the brand's campaign focused on fashion.
Sweeney's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for further comment from Fox News Digital.