{"id":2144381,"date":"2026-09-14T19:40:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T16:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2144381"},"modified":"2026-09-14T19:40:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T16:40:35","slug":"sydney-sweeney-criticized-by-female-athletes-as-nude-sports-trading-app-ad-sparks-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2144381","title":{"rendered":"Sydney Sweeney Criticized by Female Athletes as Nude Sports Trading App Ad Sparks Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Euphoria<\/a> star Sydney Sweeney has sparked yet another backlash for an advert after appearing nude in a series of promotional videos for sports trading app Novig.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In the ads, the Madame Web star appears mostly naked, covered only by footballs, basketballs, and other sports paraphernalia. \u201cNovig is just sports,\u201d Sweeney says. \u201cSo they wanted to show just sports.\u201d<\/p>\n

The visual gags, pointing to Novig\u2019s mission statement of being a trading app focused solely on sports (eschewing unrelated topics found on competing prediction markets), have sparked no end of controversy \u2014 both about Sweeney\u2019s lack of clothing and how its imagery reflects on female athletes.<\/p>\n

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Confirmed: Sydney Sweeney knows ball. pic.twitter.com\/EXQ4PzVZsi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Novig (@Novig) September 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Several high-profile women in sports have spoken out against Novig\u2019s advertisements, with Australian professional boxer Skye Nicolson writing on Instagram, \u201cCompanies doing these ad campaigns should DO BETTER.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the disrespect on athletes who dedicate their life to sport and to the women who have broken barriers for generations, to then have it made a mockery of by using a sex symbol using suggestive language and imagery in an ad about sport,\u201d she added in a now-deleted Instagram story. <\/p>\n

Gracie Kramer, a former UCLA gymnast who\u2019s been one of the most outspoken female athletes regarding this situation, also chimed in. \u201cI don\u2019t know what Sydney Sweeney was doing, but this is what a woman in sports looks like,\u201d she wrote on Instagram, along with footage from her competitions.<\/p>\n

Tilly Kearns, a two-time Olympic water polo athlete, also posted a viral reel to Instagram, captioned, \u201cI absolutely f**king hate Sydney Sweeney\u2019s new sports ad.\u201d The video showed several clips from her water polo meets, training sessions, and medalling ceremonies.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike, what are we doing \u2026 so much worse than I imagined, too. Here\u2019s some real women sports content,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

Speaking to the BBC<\/a>, British sprinter Amy Hunt called out the campaign after running the 200-meter dash at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest, telling the outlet\u2019s camera crews, \u201cSydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like.\u201d<\/p>\n

These are just a few of the many statements to have emerged from high-profile athletes in the aftermath of Sweeney\u2019s Novig ads, and they haven\u2019t gone without notice. Sweeney reportedly responded to the backlash on her Instagram stories, sharing a handful of covers from ESPN\u2019s Body Issue, which notably feature images of nude athletes.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Complex<\/a>, Sweeney said called the ad campaign \u201ca very simple and playful idea. She insisted “I grew up loving sports,” adding: “I played sports growing up. I was on a soccer team, I was on a softball team, I was on a snow ski team. I learned how to slalom ski when I was little, and I did MMA. So sports have been a really big part of my life, and I love watching hockey and boxing, especially after playing Christie Martin. I have a really huge appreciation for every single fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The outrage has gotten so bad that Sweeney’s social media presence is suffering; as noted by Variety<\/a>, her account has lost over 200,000 followers amid the backlash. It’s worth noting though that the Hollywood star still has 25.7 million followers on Instagram.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time an advertisement featuring Sydney Sweeney has come under fire. You might remember the outrage that resulted from her 2025 campaign with American Eagle, which sparked debate over the play on words regarding \u201cjeans\u201d and \u201cgenes,\u201d prompting accusations of racism against both Sweeney and the clothing brand, though American Eagle clarified that its ad was merely meant to highlight the fact that “great jeans look good on everyone.”<\/p>\n

Sweeney is clearly leaning into her status as a sex symbol, with her Novig ad campaign being the latest example of this. Back in May 2025, she turned heads for selling her own bathwater<\/a> in a partnership with Dr. Squatch, a body wash and soap brand, which also sparked debate among fans and critics.<\/p>\n

In terms of upcoming acting projects, Sweeney is down to appear in The Housemaid’s Secret and the live-action Gundam movie. In July, it was reported that Sweeney had signed a deal to star in a new Sleepy Hollow movie<\/a>. Meanwhile, Sega\u2019s arcade racing game OutRun is set for a movie adaptation, with Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney attached<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Image credit: Novig.<\/em><\/p>\n

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