Comedian Tim Dillon passionately defended actress Sydney Sweeney after criticism arose regarding her nearly nude advertisement for the sports prediction market company, Novig. Sweeney faced backlash from female athletes who expressed discomfort over being hypersexualized. In the ad, Sweeney appeared in various poses with sports equipment strategically covering her body.
Dillon commented on his podcast, questioning the upset reactions from female athletes, saying, “What is Sydney Sweeney going to do? You want her to gain weight and be some fat rugby player? She’s taking her t–s out and you should be happy about it.” Despite this, Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus, sprinter Amy Hunt, and former gymnast Gracie Kramer, among others, denounced the ad.
Australian surfer Felicity Palmateer criticized the campaign as “very damaging, especially for young females getting into sports.” In response, Dillon stated, “No one is valuing female athletes for what they look like.” He emphasized that Sweeney’s attractiveness is part of her appeal and not indicative of a broader issue of sexualizing female athletes.
Dillon predicted that companies would continue seeking Sweeney for campaigns due to the attention and controversy she generates. Her previous ads for brands like Guess have also sparked public debate. Dillon observed, “Sydney Sweeney’s going to be the hottest commodity for a corporate company now because you know that you can get a controversial ad with Sydney Sweeney for almost anything.”
Sweeney addressed the criticism by highlighting ESPN magazine covers featuring nude athletes like Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey. In parallel, Craig Carton from “The Craig Carton Show” defended Sweeney, dismissing claims of her photos setting back women’s progress. He contrasted the reactions, associating critics with those who supported Lindsay Clancy.
Carton divided people into two groups: the “crazy” and “non-crazy,” suggesting that non-crazy individuals appreciate Sweeney’s images while viewing Clancy as deserving of imprisonment for her actions. He argued that those opposing Sweeney’s campaign often praised Clancy.