Sharon Stone has a message for Sydney Sweeney: own the controversy.
The Basic Instinctstar was asked about Sweeney’s nearly nude sports betting ad at a Los Angeles event, after the campaign drew criticism from athletes who said it sexualized 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 magazine.
Stone, who starred alongside Sweeney in season three of Euphoria, said she wants to support women athletes instead of turning their achievements into a way to attract gamblers.
“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 ad showed Sweeney covering herself with sports equipment while describing Novig as “just for sport.”
It sparked backlash from athletes including water polo player Tilly Kearns, boxer Skye Nicolson and swimming champion Ariarne Titmus.
“I can’t describe how infuriated I feel,” Titmus wrote on Instagram, calling the campaign “a kick in the face” to women who dedicate themselves to sport.
Sweeney later shared past covers and campaigns featuring athletes such as Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey posing provocatively.
Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky said the campaign was “hugely supportive of women’s sports” and “never intended to portray female sports.”
Stone previously defended Sweeney over her American Eagle jeans campaign, saying “it’s okay to use what mama gave you.”
2026-09-26 14:41:00
