Sydney Sweeney Loses 200,000 Instagram Followers as Female Athletes Slam Nude Sports-Betting Ad

Female athletes worldwide are expressing outrage over a Novig advertisement featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. The one-minute ad, launched last Wednesday, depicts Sweeney nude, save for strategically placed sports equipment, and repeatedly emphasizes the word "sports" to distinguish Novig from other prediction markets. The backlash centers on the ad's hypersexualized portrayal of women's relationship to sports.

Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus, an eight-time Olympic medalist, criticized the ad on Instagram, saying it is "a kick in the face to every woman who has dedicated her life to perfecting her craft" and "monetising a woman's body and sexualising women's sport." Other current and former pro athletes, including rhythmic gymnast Gracie Kramer, Australian runner Bree Rizzo, and swimmer Brianna Throssell, voiced similar sentiments on their social media accounts.

British sprinter Amy Hunt addressed the issue during a post-race interview, saying "Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like." The backlash has extended to female sports-media professionals and global sports-training centers. Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky stated that Sweeney is an equity holder in the company and helped craft its sports-only messaging, but the company has not responded to requests for comment on female athletes' reactions to the ad.