Billy Bush has defended actress Sydney Sweeney amid backlash over her recent sports betting commercial. Sweeney’s ad campaign sparked controversy, particularly among female athletes, due to its provocative nature.
According to Bush, Sweeney’s strategy was ‘brilliant,’ as she secured equity in the company Novig prior to the ad going viral, accumulating over forty million views. Bush likened the controversy surrounding Sweeney to past public outcries over marketing campaigns by brands like American Eagle and media entities such as ESPN with their Body Issue. He suggested that criticism often dissipates over time.
While Sweeney faced criticism for the ad, she continues to maintain her public persona through other social media engagements. Recently, she shared photos on social media showing her with a different hairstyle during an outing at the Santa Monica Pier.
In the original ad, Sweeney appeared nearly nude with sports equipment, prompting accusations of sexualizing women in sports. Critics included Olympian swimmer Ariarne Titmus, who viewed the ad as disrespectful to female athletes. Gymnast Gracie Kramer and sprinter Amy Hunt criticized the campaign for reinforcing stereotypes about women in sports.
Sweeney responded to criticism by sharing images of renowned athletes like Serena Williams and Megan Rapinoe who had posed for ESPN’s Body Issue. In a subsequent ad for Novig, she appeared topless, humorously addressing the speculations by mentioning spreadsheets men create to predict details about her.
Christina Dugan Ramirez, an entertainment journalist, covered these events for Fox News Digital. Ramirez has extensive experience reporting high-profile Hollywood stories and interviewing influential industry figures.
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