Sydney Sweeney caused a stir earlier this month when she appeared nude, but covered in sports equipment in an ad for a sports betting company. Sophie Cunningham has now weighed in on the ad calling it “inauthentic” because she isn’t sure if Sweeney even gambles on sports. The Indiana Fever star also said she doesn’t like the ad, but understands why it exists.
Cunningham discussed the Sweeney ad on her new podcast, “No Hesitation with Sophie Cunningham & Drew Hanlen.” She really had no choice in the matter because as soon as the Sweeney ad released she says she was inundated with people asking her to talk about it.
Cunningham waited until the end of the episode to discuss the controversy, but the episode title was “Sophie Gets Real About the Sydney Sweeney Ad,” Sweeney’s image appears in the episode thumbnail and there’s a tease at the start of the episode.
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Sophie Cunningham on Sydney Sweeney’s gambling ad
“I really like her and you know what? She sticks to her guns and she does her thing and she’s her,” said Cunningham. “So, like props to her. Do I like it? Like that particular ad? Not really. I think it’s like, I mean like what are we doing? But again, I’m not surprised. Like that’s what that’s what she’s known for. So she’s going to do that. She’s making her money. Go do your thing, sis.”
Hanlen said that he was surprised people were so upset by the ad because it’s just the same thing that happened with Sweeney’s American Eagle jeans ad over the summer. Cunningham agreed that people shouldn’t be surprised.
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Cunningham wasn’t surprised
“But why are girls mad? Like that is that is literally what she does,” said Cunningham. “Why is anyone mad? Like that she they she is it a gambling ad. Men. Sports. Pretty much naked women. Like of course that’s going to draw attention. Again, do I agree with it? Uh, morally I think it’s kind of weird, but like to each their own. Go do your thing, sis. But at the end of the day, I’m really loving seeing all these girls who are powerful, strong, showing young girls what it looks like to actually be an athlete.”
Cunningham also said the ad wasn’t for women, but was happy to see powerful women speaking up.
“I don’t think the ad was coming for women in sport,” Cunningham continued, “but I will say I think I will take this time, a little bit of time to, you know, talk about… I think it has been so cool to see girls who, you know what, they’re they’re muscly, their thighs touch, they have broad shoulders, they might be taller than the average girl and probably the average boy. But you know what? I think that’s what it that’s what it is. You’ve got to embrace your power.”
Cunningham and the Indiana Fever return to the court on Friday night.
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