Sydney Sweeney defends nude sports ad with ESPN magazine covers
Sydney Sweeney responded to criticism over her nude sports betting ad for Novig by posting ESPN magazine covers of naked athletes on social media. The 29-year-old actress faced backlash after launching the campaign with a nearly-naked video. Sweeney shared a carousel of images on Instagram, including herself covering her upper body with footballs and covers featuring Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, and other athletes. Critics accused her of sexualizing a male-dominated field, while some praised the ad as the greatest in sports betting history. In a statement to Variety, Sweeney defended the campaign as embracing a fun idea to focus on sports with confidence and humor. This follows prior controversies over her "Euphoria" role and an American Eagle jeans campaign criticized for racial undertones.