Female athletes slam Sydney Sweeney's nude sports betting ads
American actress Sydney Sweeney has released advertisements for the US sports prediction market "Novig," featuring her nude or nearly nude posing with sports equipment, drawing anger and distrust from female athletes who call it "overly sexual." Australian surfer Felicity Palmateer told CNN on the 14th that the campaign is "very harmful" to female athletes and girls considering starting sports. The ads, posted September 9th, show Sweeney with footballs, tennis rackets, and baseball bats, including a nude shot lying on a basketball. The Instagram Reel ad garnered 37 million views in four days. Palmateer expressed disbelief, saying a 42-second commercial set women's sports back significantly, adding that athletes want to be valued for their abilities, not appearance. Four-time Olympian swimmer Ariarne Titmus also responded critically on her Instagram story.