Sydney Sweeney has responded to criticism surrounding her latest advertisement for sports trading app Novig, after the campaign sparked debate among athletes, commentators and social media users.
The advertisement features Sweeney posing with different pieces of sports equipment, including footballs, basketballs, hockey gear and tennis racquets. The visual campaign quickly drew criticism from some viewers, who argued that it sexualised women’s sports rather than highlighting athletic performance.
Amid the backlash, Sweeney addressed the criticism through her Instagram Stories. She shared an image from the advertisement alongside photographs from past ESPN shoots featuring prominent athletes who had also posed with little or no clothing.
The photographs included athletes such as Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe and Caroline Wozniacki, as well as several male sports personalities.
However, Sweeney’s comparison did not settle the debate. Social media users questioned whether professional athletes posing for editorial or sports-focused campaigns could be directly compared with an entertainment celebrity appearing in an advertisement promoting a sports-related trading platform.
Critics also focused on the context and purpose of the campaign rather than simply the amount of clothing involved. Some argued that athletes’ photos were connected to their sporting identities and physical achievements, while Sweeney’s advertisement was designed around a commercial message.
The controversy comes after Sweeney faced another major advertising debate surrounding her American Eagle campaign.
On the professional front, Sweeney has continued to expand her film and television work. She remains associated with Euphoria and has also appeared in projects including Christy and The Housemaid.
