Female athletes criticize Sydney Sweeney ad for sexualizing women in sports
An advertising campaign featuring actor Sydney Sweeney for sports prediction platform Novig has drawn backlash from female athletes who accuse it of sexualizing women in sports, with critics calling the ad disrespectful. Four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Ariarne Titmus expressed fury on Instagram, while British sprinter Amy Hunt highlighted athletes' muscles and hard work in a post-race BBC interview. Former gymnast Gracie Kramer and rugby player Sofie Fella also condemned the ad on social media. Novig and Sweeney's publicist did not immediately respond to comment requests. Sweeney posted ESPN Body Issue covers in an apparent response, and the ad follows her previous controversial brand campaigns, including a 2025 American Eagle partnership.