Sharon Stone Criticizes Sydney Sweeney’s Sports Betting Campaign

Speaking at an event in Los Angeles, Stone clarified that her past professional collaboration with Sweeney on the series Euphoria does not require her to endorse the younger actress's commercial choices. While Stone insisted that she is not interested in judging Sweeney personally, she emphasized a firm boundary regarding the representation of women in athletics. She maintained that her primary focus remains supporting women who have climbed the ranks to become champions, rather than aligning with advertisements that prioritize male interest over athletic integrity.

The Novig campaign, which features Sweeney posing with sports equipment, has faced a wave of backlash from prominent figures. Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus labeled the ad a direct insult to women who have dedicated their lives to their craft, citing values like teamwork and discipline that she believes the campaign ignores. Other athletes, including boxer Skye Nicolson and water polo player Tilly Kearns, echoed these concerns. Meanwhile, Sweeney has implicitly defended her participation by sharing images of athletes like Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey, suggesting that high-profile women have long balanced success with provocative imagery. Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky has rejected the criticism, asserting that the company remains a supporter of women's sports and that the ad was intended only to highlight Sweeney’s status as a major movie star.