Sydney Sweeney Loses Followers Over Controversial Sports Betting Ad

Sydney Sweeney is once again facing massive backlash on social media, losing over 200,000 Instagram followers following a controversial sports betting advertisement.

The Controversial Campaign

The 60-second commercial for the sports prediction app Novig features Sweeney posing with various sports equipment while wearing little to no clothing. Beyond her 25.9 million followers, the ad sparked immediate outrage from Olympic athletes, including gold medalists who accused her of setting women back decades.

Athlete Outrage and Public Reaction

Australian Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus voiced her intense anger on social media, questioning how women's bodies are still being used for profit and the sexualization of women's sports remains prevalent. Public reactions on platforms like X were deeply polarized, with critics slamming the actress for regressive imagery, while supporters defended her choices.

I cannot describe how furious I am watching this. How do we live in a world where a woman's body becomes a source of profit, and the sexualization of women's sports are still existing phenomena?

Despite the fierce criticism, Sweeney, who also serves as a strategic partner and shareholder in Novig, has remained defiant. She shared more content from the campaign and referenced ESPN's Body Issue to justify the artistic direction, emphasizing that the commercial was meant to be playful and humorous.