WNBA player Sophie Cunningham expressed her disappointment regarding actress Sydney Sweeney's recent ad for sports trading app Novig, though she said it did not surprise her. On a recent episode of her podcast “No Hesitation,” Cunningham addressed numerous messages she received about the ad campaign.
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Sweeney has previously faced backlash for her American Eagle jeans promotion, and the visuals in the Novig ad stirred more controversy. In the advertisement, Sweeney appears mostly nude, using athletic equipment to cover herself.
Cunningham questioned the authenticity of Sweeney's endorsement, asking, "Does she even gamble on sports? It's just so unauthentic. You know what I mean?" She acknowledged that Sweeney's representation of the brand was in line with her career choices.
While Cunningham praised Sweeney’s beauty, stating, "She clearly has my chest," she also reflected on the industry’s expectations, remarking, "But why are girls mad? That is literally what she does. Why is anyone mad? It is a gambling ad. Men, sports, pretty much naked women – like of course that's going to draw attention." Lastly, she indicated a moral discomfort with the ad but concluded, "To each their own. Go do your thing, sis."