At the Variety Power of Women: Los Angeles event, veteran actress Sharon Stone, 68, publicly challenged her “Euphoria” co‑star Sydney Sweeney, 29, over a new advertisement for the sports‑prediction service Novig. Stone said Sweeney must “take responsibility for her actions” after the ad, which features the actress in near‑nude poses while holding sports equipment, sparked criticism from female athletes and commentators.
Stone’s criticism focuses on the impact on women’s sports
Stone told People, “I think it’s up to her to take responsibility for her actions, not up to me to judge her. It is up to me to be a cheerleader for the women who have made it through and become champions in women’s sports.” She added, “We can’t denigrate women’s sports to get men’s attention so they can gamble.” The actress recalled her own high‑school fight for equal opportunity, noting she once threatened legal action to try out for the boys’ golf team because her school lacked a girls’ program.
Backlash from athletes and media figures
Several prominent female athletes expressed outrage. Australian Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus wrote on Instagram, “I can’t describe how infuriated I feel when I watch this. How do we live in a world where monetizing a woman’s body and sexualizing women’s sport is still a thing?” British sprinter Amy Hunt also weighed in, saying, “Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like – muscles, hard work, sweat, blood, tears.” The ad has also drawn criticism from media commentators who argue the campaign reflects a broader cultural trend of exploiting female bodies for commercial gain.
Sweeney’s response and further controversy
In reaction to the criticism, Sweeney posted images of nude ESPN magazine covers featuring athletes such as Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe and Caroline Wozniacki, suggesting she was pushing back against the “pile‑on” she described as unfair. Fox News Digital reached out to both Stone and Sweeney for comment, but neither provided additional remarks at the time of publication.
Media commentary on the debate
Newsbusters managing editor Curtis Houck dismissed the intensity of the backlash, attributing it to jealousy and political correctness. “If you’d listen to Sharon Stone, you’d think Sydney Sweeney committed a serious criminal offense resulting in jail time, not starring in a provocative sports betting ad. Give me a break,” Houck said, adding that the criticism stems from a desire to silence voices that do not align with the “woke left.”
The controversy highlights an ongoing cultural conversation about the portrayal of women in advertising, the ethics of sports‑betting promotion, and the responsibilities of public figures when endorsing commercial products. While the ad was designed to attract attention to Novig’s platform, critics argue it does so at the expense of respecting women’s athletic achievements and the integrity of women’s sports.
As the discussion continues, both supporters of the ad’s marketing approach and opponents who view it as exploitative are likely to keep the debate alive on social media and within the entertainment industry.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
