Sharon Stone advises Sydney Sweeney on responsibility regarding betting ad controversy

Actress Sharon Stone has urged Sydney Sweeney to take responsibility for the nude sports betting advertisement that received backlash from the athletic community. Sweeney made headlines this month when she appeared nearly nude in a promotional campaign for the sports betting platform Novig, leading to accusations from prominent athletes that she was denigrating and sexualizing women’s sports. Stone, who starred with Sweeney in the third season of 'Euphoria,' commented on the controversy at an event in Los Angeles, expressing her support for women’s sports. 'I think that it’s up to [Sweeney] to take responsibility for her actions, not up to me to judge her for her actions,' Stone told People. 'It is up to me to be a cheerleader for the women who have made it through and become champions in women’s sports.' Stone emphasized that the focus of women’s sports should not be on attracting male attention. 'We can’t denigrate women’s sports to get men’s attention so they can gamble,' she stated. Sweeney's ad featured her almost naked while covering herself with sports equipment, stating that the betting platform was 'just for sport.' The ad prompted significant backlash from the sporting community, including Olympic athletes such as water polo player Tilly Kearns, boxer Skye Nicolson, and swimming champion Ariarne Titmus. Titmus expressed her frustration on Instagram, stating, 'I can’t describe how infuriated I feel. Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who has dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but every woman who enjoys sports for what it really is — teamwork, friendship, dedication, excellence, unity.' In response to the backlash, Sweeney shared past magazine covers and ad campaigns featuring famous athletes like Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey posing provocatively. Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky defended the campaign, stating that the platform is 'hugely supportive of women’s sports' and that the campaign 'never intended to portray female sports.' Fortinsky added, 'Sydney is an actress, the biggest movie star in the world. We’re a prediction market focused on sports. That is the story she was communicating.' This is not the first time Stone has commented on Sweeney’s controversies; last year, she defended Sweeney amid backlash over her American Eagle jeans ad, stating, 'it’s okay to use what mama gave you.'