Stone says Sweeney should take responsibility for Novig ad

Sharon Stone said Sydney Sweeney should take responsibility for her choices in a Novig sports betting campaign, while describing her own role as supporting women athletes and objecting to marketing that denigrates women’s sports to attract gamblers. The comments came amid criticism of the campaign from female athletes, who said its sexualized imagery risks overshadowing women’s athletic achievements. Stone made the remarks in an interview published after she was asked about the campaign. She said she was not there to judge Sweeney personally, but believed Sweeney should be accountable for participating in it. Stone added that women’s sports should not be denigrated to get men’s attention so they can gamble. The campaign promotes Novig, a sports prediction platform, and features Sweeney posing with sports equipment in revealing images. It prompted public criticism from athletes, including gymnast Gracie Kramer and British track athlete Amy Hunt. The supplied accounts describe debate over the ad’s use of sexualized imagery, not a dispute over whether the campaign appeared.