Sydney Sweeney has never been shy about showing off her sex appeal in film/TV roles (most recently the final season) Euphoriafor example) and advertising, but mrs webb The star’s latest campaign against the Novig sports trading app has sparked outrage among those in the sports industry.
The ad (see below), which shows Sweeney provocatively placing various sports balls, rackets and uniforms on her nearly naked body, prompted a backlash from several female athletes concerned about the sexualization of women’s sports.
“I can’t describe how angry I was when I saw this” Australia’s four-time Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus wrote on Instagram. “Not only is this a gut punch for every woman who has dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but it’s a gut punch for every woman who truly loves their sport — teamwork, friendship, dedication, excellence, unity. How do we live in a world that monetizes women’s bodies and sexualizes women’s sports?”
“For women in sports, it’s not just about how they look. It’s about their strength, skill, dedication, resilience, confidence and everything they can achieve,” Australian sprinter Bree Rizzo said.
British sprinter Amy Hunt praised the actress in an interview with the BBC. “Sharon Sweeney, this is what women in sports look like,” she said after competing at the World Athletics Xtreme Championships. “Muscles. Hard work, blood, sweat, tears. It was a beautiful night.”
Sweeney said the purpose of the event is to “It’s about embracing a fun idea. The concept is simple: cancel out the noise and focus entirely on sport. The campaign brings that idea to life with confidence, humor and playfulness.”
Many pointed out that Sweeney was being hypocritical for being less valued for her contributions to women’s sports when many female sports stars, including Ronda Rousey and Serena Williams, have stripped naked for ad campaigns and photo shoots in the past (Sweeney shared several of those photos in response).
Sweeney also faced backlash last year after posing for an American Eagle Jeans ad campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” when some linked the “gene” game to white supremacy.
“To be honest, I’m surprised by the reaction,” the actress said at the time. “I do this because I love jeans and I love the brand. I do not support the views that some people choose to associate with this campaign. Many people have given me motives and labels that are untrue.”
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m always trying to bring people together,” she continued. “I stand against hate and division. My stance in the past has been to never respond to negative or positive media, but recently I have come to realize that my silence on this issue will only widen the divide rather than bridge it. So I hope the new year will focus more on the things that connect us and less on the things that divide us.”
Sweeney’s decision to comment on the controversy doesn’t sit well with those who think she’s doing the right thing by refusing to acknowledge what many consider to be nonsense, but actors do tend to fall into a “damned if they do, damned if they don’t” situation when it comes to promoting movies.
What do you think of this latest “controversy”? Please leave us a message below.
Confirmed: Sidney Sweeney knows football. pic.twitter.com/EXQ4PzVZsi
— Novig (@Novig) September 9, 2026
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— Fox News Entertainment (@FoxNewsEnt) September 14, 2026