Howard Stern has stepped into the surrounding controversy Sydney Sweeneysports betting ad, dismissing the backlash from female athletes who accused the campaign of sexualizing women in sports.
The actress has faced widespread criticism of Novig’s ad, but the shocker defends her nude display and questions why anyone would be offended by it.
The controversy comes as Sydney Sweeney continues to draw a lot of attention for her advertising choices, and Howard Stern himself faces criticism over major changes to his long-running radio show.
Howard Stern Dismisses Sydney Sweeney’s Backlash Ads
Stern addressed the controversy in a recent episode of “The Howard Stern Show,” making it clear that he did not understand why the commercial had created such outrage.
He praised Sweeney’s appearance and said she was just promoting a gambling platform. “I saw that TV ad. Who the f-ck is he worried about?” Stern said in a video clip shared online.
In Novig’s campaign Sweeney appeared with very little clothing while different materials were used to cover her body and she mentioned different sports.
The campaign has since been the subject of criticism from athletes who believe it reduces women’s participation in sports to their physical appearance.
However, Stern didn’t see much reason for her reaction, saying: “I mean, she represents a gambling website, and I’m like, ‘This is great.'” He added, “I think she’s attractive.”
Stern’s co-host, Robin Quivers, pointed out that the backlash mainly came from female athletes who objected to the way Sweeney’s campaign represented women and sports.
“‘Going around half-naked ruins the fun.’ No, you might bet on sports out of your sports,” Howard said, hitting back at the critics.
Stern’s comments have since divided his audience, with some agreeing with his defense of Sweeney, while others arguing that he “missed the point” of the backlash.
One Instagram user wrote, “Howard, I’ve loved you for a long time, but you’re dropping the ball on this one, baby.”
Another said: “Howard, missing the point: Ask a professional female athlete, have one show you, she’ll break it down for you.”
“I think the point is…women are tired of seeing women sell their sexuality for money,” said a third in response to Stern.
“By marketing women’s bodies to men, like this, all women will be safer,” said another, while a fifth added, “If they gave me Sirius for free, I wouldn’t listen! I’m DONE!!!
Another critic added, “‘Who really cares?’ I don’t know, maybe women who are sick of being seen as sex objects and would like to be taken seriously for once?”
However, a person who agreed with the comedian’s comments said, “I’m 100% with Howard on this. The problem is gambling, not advertising.”
Female athletes push back against Sydney Sweeney ad
The ad has sparked criticism from a number of female athletes, who argued that women in sports should be recognized for their athletic ability, commitment and performance rather than being showcased primarily through their appearance.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus was among the most outspoken critics, describing the campaign as “absolutely brilliant” and questioning why the sexualization of women’s bodies is still part of sports marketing.
“How do we live in a world where policing women’s bodies and sexualizing women’s sports is still a thing?” she wrote on Instagram.
British sprinter Amy Hunt also used a post-race interview to highlight the physical demands and sacrifices involved in being a female athlete.
Gymnast Gracie Kramer helped inspire a wider response from athletes by sharing photos of women competing and training along with the message, “This is what a woman in sports looks like.”
Other athletes joined the conversation afterwards, turning the backlash into a wider debate about how female athletes are portrayed in public.
Sydney Sweeney has received some support Among the Bac
While several athletes have criticized the campaign, Sweeney has also received support from people who saw the ad as a way to show confidence and femininity rather than an attack on women’s sports.
Former professional golfer Paige Spiranac seemed to be weighing in on social media, posting a series of photos of her own life including golf, fitness and recreation.
When a fan suggested that Spiranac had effectively responded to critics who accused Sweeney of “killing women’s sports,” the 33-year-old golfer responded with a playful statement defending women’s confidence and sexuality.
She then followed up with “just golf”, echoing the “just fun” slogan used in Novig Sweeney’s controversial campaign.
Her response was widely interpreted as a playful defense of women being comfortable with their appearance while participating in sports.
Howard Stern’s defense of Sydney Sweeney comes as his own show faces a major shakeup
Stern’s support for Sweeney comes at a time when his own media work is undergoing major changes.
His long-running SiriusXM program has been reduced to one live show every Monday, with a modified 90-minute version airing on HBO Max every Thursday, following layoffs that affected at least 50 employees.
SiriusXM officially confirmed the new format ahead of its September 14 return.
The revamped format has also sparked criticism among some longtime viewers, with complaints surfacing online about HBO Max’s condensed version and the decision to downsize Stern’s live output.
A Reddit user harshly described the new episode as “unwatchable!” and others questioned the appeal of watching an edited version of a show they already hear on SiriusXM.
The changes have also affected SiriusXM’s channel lineup. Howard 101, the channel that carried archived Stern-related programming, was given to Andy Cohen’s Radio Andy after the scandal reduced its duties.
The move was confirmed publicly, with Stern saying he wanted to scale back to one weekly radio show.
Despite the criticism of the changes, Stern seemed unfazed when he returned from summer vacation on September 14.
Addressing the negative attention surrounding him, he said, “If you think I’m a scumbag, you’re probably right.”