Sydney Sweeney responds to backlash by pairing the ad with past athlete nude photoshoots
Actor; strategic partner and equity holder, Novig
“It’s gamedayyyy [caption on a carousel pairing an image from the Novig ad with ESPN "Body Issue" photos of athletes including Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Caroline Wozniacki, Myles Garrett, Rob Gronkowski, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jason Kelce]”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Fox News report directly quoting the caption ("It’s gamedayyyy") on Sweeney’s Sept. 13 Instagram response to the backlash.
Before the quotation
Posted to Instagram on September 13, 2026, as the athlete-led backlash was building.
After the quotation
Sweeney did not otherwise give a verbal, on-record response addressing the athletes’ specific objections as of this record.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Sydney Sweeney’s Novig "Just Sports" ad draws backlash over sexualizing women’s sport
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Sweeney’s post implicitly defends the ad by placing it alongside a history of athletes posing nude for ESPN’s Body Issue, arguing by comparison that the campaign should not be treated as exceptional.
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Sydney Sweeney’s Novig "Just Sports" ad draws backlash over sexualizing women’s sport
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“Come on. With respect, I just don’t think it’s a kick in the face for any of those things... I can’t help feeling it would have been cooler for women’s sport to simply not even mention the naked gambling ad at all.”Read statement
“We never intended to portray female sports. Sydney’s an actress, the biggest movie star in the world. We’re a prediction market that is focused on sports, and that is the story that she was communicating... It really was Sydney who was driving the visuals and the messaging.”Read statement
“This one hits close to home... because I didn’t think I looked like the athlete I was ‘supposed’ to be. Young girls deserve to grow up seeing female athletes celebrated for their strength, courage, talent and what their bodies are capable of.”Read statement