Sydney Sweeney loses 200K Instagram followers as her nude Novig sports ad draws fierce backlash from female athletes and Olympians The Sydney Sweeney’s Risqué Sports Ad Backfires As 200K Fans Hit Unfollow first appeared on The Blast

Sydney Sweeney likely expected her latest sports betting campaign to spark conversation. Instead, it ignited a debate that has stretched far beyond advertising. 

The actress is facing criticism from prominent female athletes after appearing nude in a promotional video for bookmaker Novig, using sports equipment to cover herself. 

While the ad generated millions of views and more than a million likes, it also sparked backlash that coincided with a noticeable drop in her Instagram following.

Sydney Sweeney’s Sports Campaign Ignites Debate Beyond Social Media

The controversy began after Sydney Sweeney shared the Novig advertisement on Instagram last Wednesday. The campaign quickly drew online attention, but not all of it was positive. 

According to a Daily Mail report, Sweeney initially gained roughly 50,000 followers after the ad’s release before the trend sharply reversed.

By Sunday, the “Euphoria” actress had lost 136,848 followers, and the following day, another 68,000 had unfollowed her. 

The combined loss pushed the total above 200,000. While that figure represents less than one percent of her audience of more than 25 million followers, it showed the intensity of the reaction to the campaign.

Critics argued that the advertisement’s approach conflicted with the values many athletes had spent years promoting. 

Rather than celebrating sporting achievement, some felt the campaign shifted attention toward physical appearance.

Sweeney Faces Criticism From Olympic And World-Class Athletes

Some of the strongest reactions came from elite female athletes who used their platforms to push back against the campaign.

British sprinter Amy Hunt addressed the controversy during a post-race interview after placing fourth in a 200-meter event at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.

“It was incredible to be part of such an incredible race. Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like. 21.4 [seconds, the winning time of Melissa Jefferson-Wooden], muscles, hard work, sweat, blood, tears. This is a beautiful evening,” she said.

As The Blast reported, former Australian Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus also expressed frustration with the advertisement. “I can’t describe how infuriated I feel when I watch this,” Titmus shared.

She continued, “Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who had dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but every woman who enjoys sports for what it really is – teamwork, friendship, dedication, excellence, unity.”

Titmus then questioned the broader culture surrounding sports marketing, asking, “How do we live in a world where monetising a woman’s body and sexualising women’s sport is still a thing?”

Sydney Sweeney And Novig Defend The Campaign’s Intentions

Despite the backlash, both Sweeney and Novig have defended the advertisement and its purpose. Addressing the criticism, Sweeney revealed that the campaign was about embracing a fun idea.

She added, “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.”

Meanwhile, Novig founder and CEO Jacob Fortinsky revealed that Sweeney, who owns an equity stake in the company, was actively involved in shaping the campaign. According to Fortinsky, the Hollywood star specifically pushed for the nude concept.

He recalled Sweeney telling him, “I’m uncomfortable with other platforms that have markets on what color underwear I’m going to wear.”

Fortinsky also praised her ability to command attention, saying, “Sydney is great at captivating audiences and being the center of attention.”

More From The Blast

• Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun’s romance reportedly faced new pressure as his children became more involved.
• Sweeney was hit with “PR stunt” accusations while helping wildfire victims.
• Sweeney was previously told to “put on a bra” over her sheer Venice Film Festival look.
• The actress turned heads in another sheer look while attending the Venice Film Festival.
• Sweeney’s lingerie campaign sparked questions about exactly who she was “selling this to”.

Sweeney’s Romance With Scooter Braun Faces Fresh Scrutiny 

The backlash surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s sports betting campaign may have dominated headlines for days, but it wasn’t the only conversation unfolding around the actress. 

As critics debated her latest advertisement, another story was quietly gaining traction in Hollywood circles: the increasingly intertwined nature of her relationship with Scooter Braun and her business decisions. 

The discussion intensified after Sweeney signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), a move that quickly became the subject of industry chatter. 

According to The Blast, Braun played a role in helping facilitate meetings that ultimately led to the representation switch. 

However, the story took an unexpected turn when Page Six reported that sources claimed super-agent Ari Emanuel allegedly advised Sweeney to distance herself from Braun if she wanted to strengthen her image as a serious actress and businesswoman. 

The report drew immediate attention because Braun reportedly encouraged Sweeney to meet Emanuel in the first place. However, a representative for Emanuel denied that the meeting and comments ever occurred. 

Sydney Sweeney And Scooter Braun Make Major Relationship Statement At Venice Film Festival

If questions about Braun’s influence were circulating behind closed doors, the couple’s appearance in Venice offered a very public answer to a different question: just how serious is this relationship? 

Nearly one year after reports first emerged that Sweeney and Braun were dating, the pair stepped out together at the Venice Film Festival, turning what might have been a routine celebrity sighting into one of the event’s most talked-about relationship moments. 

The appearance carried added significance because Venice was also where their story first began. According to PEOPLE, the two seemingly connected during Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding celebrations in Venice in June 2025. 

At the time, sources described their relationship as casual, but that quickly changed as they spent more time together. 

Over the following year, Sweeney and Braun reportedly traveled together, attended industry events side by side, and gradually became more comfortable being seen publicly as a pair. 

Recent reports describe the pair as being in a committed relationship, while Braun publicly celebrated Sweeney’s birthday by praising what he called their “true partnership” and describing her as “the exception to every rule.”

The Sydney Sweeney’s Risqué Sports Ad Backfires As 200K Fans Hit Unfollow first appeared on The Blast