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Athletes Slam Sweeney's 'Sexualized' Sports Ad
14 Sep
Summary
- Female athletes reacted with anger to Sydney Sweeney's sports ad.
- They felt the ad sexualized women's sports, disrespecting their dedication.
- Athletes shared their own highlight reels to counter the ad's message.
Actress Sydney Sweeney's recent advertising campaign for the sports betting company Novig has drawn sharp criticism from numerous female athletes. The campaign featured Sweeney posing "wearing just sports," with minimal coverage provided by sports equipment.
This advertisement, which debuted last week, quickly prompted backlash over the weekend from prominent athletes. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus expressed deep frustration on Instagram, calling the ad a 'kick in the face' to women dedicated to their sports and questioning the continued sexualization of women's sports for profit.
American gymnast Gracie Kramer and Australian sprinter Bree Rizzo joined the chorus of criticism. Kramer posted a highlight reel of her athletic achievements, stating it showcased what a woman in sports truly looks like, a sentiment echoed by other athletes. British sprinter Amy Hunt also used a BBC interview to contrast Sweeney's ad with images of female athletes' strength and hard work.
World champion boxer Skye Nicolson commented that the controversy highlighted a mockery of women in sport, distinguishing between looking 'sexy' due to athletic prowess and using sex to sell sport. Sweeney herself appeared to respond via Instagram Stories with images of nude athletes, including Serena Williams and Megan Rapinoe.
