Sydney Sweeney responds strongly after backlash to nude sports ad

‘This is what women in sport look like’

The controversial ad features Sweeney naked but she is seen using various pieces of sporting equipment to cover parts of her body.

Many have criticised the way it sexualizes women in sport, and that sportswomen are now being defined by their looks rather than their achievements.

Former Ireland and Peamount footballer, Karen Duggan, featured on RTÉ radio this morning to call out the ad.

She said: "In a way I think we're nearly overcomplicating it as a sports ad.

"I think it's silly, I think it uses an outdated formula of attractive women in sports imagery and a bit of controversy to sell a product.

"I don't think it was ever intended to represent female athletes or women in sports or the reality of that.

"My biggest criticism is I don't think women were part of that conversation at all. Sydney Sweeney doesn't represent me as a normal woman or the female athlete in any way.

"I think it's largely just for men who consume sports through their phones, through social media."

She then went on to praise the response by other female athletes, and the spotlight it has given them.

Duggan added: "The response to me has been really, really interesting. I feel like there's obviously been something bubbling under the surface, where female athletes feel massively underrepresented in advertising and social media, and undercelebrated.

"I love how they've used this ad as a means to go out there and highlight how the female athlete thinks, how hard they work.

"And my algorithm isn't coming at me with loads of Sydney Sweeney propaganda, it's coming at me with the likes of Amy Hunt using her platform after a race to celebrate her competitors."

Sprinter Amy Hunt, who earlier this summer became a four-time European champion, referenced the advert after she ran a season's best 22.10 seconds to finish fourth in the 200m final at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest on Sunday.

In her post-race interview with BBC Sport, 24-year-old Hunt said: “Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like.”

Amy Hunt of Team GB at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship on September 13, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. Credit: Getty Images

How the trend of reactions against Sweeney’s ad started

The backlash for the ad featuring Sydney Sweeney has included many other athletes from a range of sports posting videos of themselves competing or training.

It was American gymnast Gracie Kramer who started the trend, as she posted a montage of herself training.

She captioned the clip: “I don't know what Sydney Sweeney was doing, but this is what women in sport look like.”

Meanwhile, Ariarne Titmus, Australia's four-time Olympic swimming champion said: “I can’t describe how infuriated I feel when I watch this. Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who had dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but every women who enjoys sports for what it really is – teamwork, friendship, dedication, excellent, unity...

“How do we live in a world where monetising a woman’s body and sexualising women’s sport is still a thing?

“I thought we were genuinely moving past this b*******. What is this teaching the young men and women of today? Sydney Sweeney, do better.”

Others who chimed in were British cyclist and Olympic champion Sophie Capewell MBE, rugby players Lisa Neumann and Ellie Boatman and Australian water polo Olympian Tilly Kearns.

However, Sydney Sweeney responded on social media by sharing covers from ESPN’s ‘Body Issue' series, which featured numerous global sporting icons naked, such as: Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams, Rob Gronkowski and Megan Rapinoe.