Latino: body-positivity backlash reveals a double standard
Russ LatinoFounder and CEO, Magnolia Tribune
Magnolia Tribune founder Russ Latino defended Sweeney's appearance in the ad, arguing that if body positivity is celebrated for other campaigns, "that principle has to include women whose bodies other people happen to find attractive."
“If women are supposed to be proud of their bodies, that principle has to include women whose bodies other people happen to find attractive.”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Sydney Sweeney’s Novig "Just Sports" ad draws backlash over sexualizing women’s sport
Novig, a U.S. sports prediction market in which Sydney Sweeney is a strategic partner and equity holder, released a "Just Sports" ad campaign on September 9, 2026, in which Sweeney appears nude or minimally clothed while covering herself with sports equipment. The ad drew public criticism from a number of female athletes, who said it sexualizes women’s sport; Novig’s CEO and at least one columnist publicly disputed that characterization.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
Magnolia Tribune op-ed by Russ Latino defending Sweeney via a body-positivity double-standard argument.
Before the quotation
Op-ed responding to the backlash over the Novig ad.
After the quotation
No further public follow-up had been reported as of this writing.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Latino explicitly defends Sweeney's choice to appear in the ad, arguing the backlash reveals a hypocritical double standard relative to other body-positivity campaigns.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Sydney Sweeney
More from this case
Read the full caseJones and co-authors criticize sexualization and gambling appeals in Novig's ad
“The ad captures two troubling trends: how routinely women’s bodies are sexualized in digital media and how gambling companies use sexual appeal, and the implied promise of romantic or sexual reward, to target young men.”Read statement
Fortinsky renews his defense of Novig's Sweeney ad
“Ultimately, I think we have nothing to apologize for and are very proud of the work that we did,”Read statement
Calkins defends the ad as sex-appeal marketing
“It was an ad that used sex appeal to catch the eye of a mostly-male market — not a "kick in the face" to female athletes, as four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Ariarne Titmus suggested.”Read statement
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- Latino: body-positivity backlash reveals a double standard
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The Dispute Index. "Latino: body-positivity backlash reveals a double standard". First published: 2026-09-17. Last updated: 2026-09-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/899-magnolia-tribune-founder-russ-latino-defended-sweeney-s