Sydney Sweeney naked sports ad controversy: what’s she playing at?

The actor Sydney Sweeney is under fire for ‘sexualising women’s sports’ in an ad campaign for US sports prediction company Novig, which features a series of images of her in various states of undress as she pretends to play different sports. The ad has been widely criticised by a number of sportswomen, including Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus who described it as ‘infuriating’ and a ‘kick in the teeth’ to women who have ‘spent decades perfecting their craft’. Sweeney has responded by saying the ad was about ‘embracing a fun idea’. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian writer Elle Hunt

Sydney Sweeney naked sports ad controversy: what’s she playing at?

TL;DR

  • Sydney Sweeney is criticized for an ad campaign with sports prediction company Novig.
  • The campaign features images of Sweeney in various states of undress pretending to play sports.
  • Critics accuse the ad of sexualizing women's sports.
  • Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus described the ad as 'infuriating' and a 'kick in the teeth' to female athletes.
  • Sweeney responded that the ad was about 'embracing a fun idea'.