‘Euphoria’ Star Sydney Sweeney Loses 200,000 Followers After Controversial Nude Betting Ad Sparks Backlash
Sydney Sweeney has lost around 200,000 social media followers after appearing in a controversial advertisement for sports betting company Novig. The campaign, which shows the actress wearing very little clothing with sports equipment covering intimate parts of her body, has sparked a heated debate online and drawn criticism from several people in the sports world.
According to data collected by Variety, Sweeney initially gained about 50,000 new Instagram followers after the advertisement was posted. However, that was followed by a much larger drop, with around 200,000 people eventually unfollowing her. Despite the loss, the number represents only a small part of her audience, as Sweeney has around 25 million followers on Instagram.
The reaction to the campaign has been mixed. Some people see the advertisement as a bold and playful way to get attention, while others believe it crosses a line by using a woman’s body to promote sports and betting. The campaign has also raised questions about the way women are presented in sports-related advertising.
Sweeney has defended the idea behind the campaign and does not appear to be backing away from it. After the criticism began, she shared more clips from the advertisement on her social media accounts, showing that she was still willing to promote the campaign despite the backlash.
“The campaign was about embracing a fun idea,” said Sweeney, who also joins Novig as a strategic partner and equity holder. “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.”
“Sports fans deserve a prediction market built specifically for them,” said Jacob Fortinsky, co-founder and CEO of Novig. “There are many places where people can engage with prediction markets across different categories. Our focus is sports, and by dedicating ourselves entirely to sports, we have built a better experience for fans. Sydney helped bring that message to life in a way that’s impossible to ignore.”
But not everyone found the campaign funny or harmless. One of the strongest reactions came from Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus, a four-time Olympic gold medalist. She openly criticized the advertisement and questioned why this type of marketing is still considered acceptable.
“I can’t describe how angry I am about this. How is it possible that we still live in a world where monetizing women’s bodies and sexualizing women’s sports is considered normal?” Titmus said.
Her comments quickly added another layer to the discussion. For critics, the issue is not simply about one advertisement or one celebrity. They argue that women in sports already face pressure to be judged on their appearance, and campaigns like this can make that problem even harder to ignore.
Marissa Womack, a promotions and game-day manager for the Harrisburg Senators baseball team, also spoke out against the campaign. She explained that her criticism was not based on jealousy but on her experience working in a male-dominated industry.
“It’s about the passion and enjoyment of working in this industry. When we are shown only through sexualization, fewer young women will want to build careers in this business,” Womack said.
The debate also comes at a time when Sweeney is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable young stars. Her large social media following means that almost every major campaign she joins is likely to attract significant attention, both positive and negative.
For now, Sweeney appears comfortable with the controversy. Rather than removing the advertisement or staying quiet, she has continued sharing material connected to it. That suggests the backlash has not changed her view of the campaign.
Whether the controversy will have any lasting effect on her career is still unclear. Losing 200,000 followers sounds significant, but compared with her overall audience of roughly 25 million, it is a relatively small percentage.
What is clear is that the Novig campaign has started a much bigger conversation about advertising, women’s bodies and the way sports are marketed. Sweeney may have lost followers, but the controversy has also ensured that plenty of people are talking about the campaign.
What do you think about Sydney Sweeney’s controversial sports betting ad?
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.
