Sydney Sweeney Appears To Respond To Nude Ad Backlash With Surprising Athlete Photos

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Sydney Sweeney is not new to controversies, and her recent nude ad campaign for the Novig app is just another addition to her list. Although the actress has kept quiet on the stir, she reacted to it in her own subtle way. After facing criticism for posing nude in the advertisement for the sports prediction platform, the actress shared a series of nude athlete photos on her social media. It has made fans speculate whether it was Sydney's way to call out the selective hate against her. 

Sydney Sweeney shares athlete body-issue images 

Sydney Sweeney took to her Instagram handle on September 13, 2026, and shared a series of sponsored Instagram Stories. It featured some images from her Novig photoshoot with the caption, "It's game day." In fact, she quickly followed it with a collection of popular ESPN Body Issue covers where well-known athletes posed without clothing. 

Some of the popular names among those pictures were Serena Williams, a former UFC fighter, Ronda Rousey, Megan Rapinoe, and Sue Bird. It also had tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, Myers Garrett, and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Although Sydney did not directly share the reason for posting the photos, many internet users feel that it was a subtle move to quiet the critics who called out her decision to pose nude in the Novig Campaign. In turn, she highlighted that previously, many similar artistic photoshoot campaigns have been done for body-positive sports imagery. 

For those who do not know, the controversy started after Sydney Sweeney shared her new advertising campaign for Novig. Incidentally, the actress is also a strategic partner and equity holder in the company. The campaign created a buzz in no time, where the actress did not wear anything and strategically covered herself with sports equipment like footballs, baseball bats, and other sports accessories. 

It was designed around the slogan, "Just Sports," where Sydney explained that the concept was to remove distractions and focus on the game. However, it started a heated debate online as many internet users felt that the campaign depended too much on the heavy sexualization of women for promoting a sports app. 

Some athletes and sports commentators even claimed that such ads undermined the efforts to have women recognized for their achievements in sports. Instead, it again made people focus on women's appearances. Others asked about the need to use nudity to market a sports prediction app and betting platform. 

However, some supporters defended Sydney and her campaign. They argued that women should be free to express themselves in the way they like without being judged. Those people also pointed out how male athletes posed nude in similar editorial projects. 

Despite all the varying reactions, Sydney has mostly stayed silent on the campaign. Instead of giving a direct response, her latest social media posts have fueled speculation that she is letting images speak for themselves. Earlier in a statement released during the campaign launch, she penned;

"The concept is simple: cut through the noise and put the focus entirely on sports. The campaign brings that idea to life with confidence, humor, and a playful edge."

Syndey Sweeney does not back down

Sydney Sweeney has spent most of her career dealing with public criticism and staying unapologetic about it. She rose to fame after working on Euphoria and The White Lotus. Her work earned her Emmy nominations and made her one of the most popular young stars. 

Apart from acting, she has expanded her influence through production projects, business ventures, and some important brand partnerships. She also started her production company Honey Trap and signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures, which strengthened her status as a rising star in Hollywood. 

What do you think about Sydney Sweeney's reply to critics?

Pic credits: Sydney Sweeney/ Instagram 

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