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Sydney Sweeney defends sports betting ad after female athletes call it 'infuriating'

independent.co.uk — September 14, 2026 at 09:01 AM UTC

Sydney Sweeney has responded to backlash over her new Novig sports betting ad campaign, which critics say sexualizes women's sport. Several female athletes called the advertisements "infuriating" and "inappropriate" after their release on September 9. In Instagram Stories on Sunday, Sweeney highlighted female athletes who have posed nude, including Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, and Megan Rapinoe, alongside male athletes like Myles Garrett and Jason Kelce. British track star Amy Hunt criticized the ad during a post-race interview, while other athletes including Matilda Kearns and Ariarne Titmus voiced strong opposition. Sweeney defended the campaign as "about embracing a fun idea" with "confidence, humour and a playful edge." She joined Novig as a strategic partner and equity holder. The controversy follows her 2025 American Eagle campaign, which was criticized for using eugenics-related language.

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