LA Dodgers outfielder Alex Call has criticized Sydney Sweeney’s provocative sports-betting commercial, arguing that the ad airing during Major League Baseball’s postseason games is inappropriate for families watching.
The 32-year-old father of two called on MLB and its broadcast partners to remove what he described as “soft p-rn” ads, highlighting the actress’s campaign for sports-prediction platform Novig.
His comments have added to the growing backlash against Sydney Sweeney’s latest ad campaign, which has also drawn criticism from top female athletes.
Alex Call Calls For Sydney Sweeney’s Ads To Be Removed
Call voiced his frustration on X on Wednesday, October 14, responding to a viral post from baseball fan Taylor Murphy, who had complained about the advertisements airing during playoff broadcasts.
Murphy questioned whether the league could attract more young viewers by making its commercial breaks more suitable for family viewing.
“Wanna get more kids watching baseball? Maybe start with the commercials,” Murphy wrote, describing advertisements featuring “Megan Fox selling ED pills in a red bodysuit,” the “scariest movie trailer you’ve ever seen,” and “Sydney Sweeney in zero clothes promoting betting on sports.”
Call agreed with the complaint and directed his criticism at MLB and the networks broadcasting the postseason games.
“Can we please get the soft p-rn ads off playoff broadcasts—TBS, Fox, NBC—@MLB?” he wrote. “My son wants to watch baseball with Dada, but how do I justify that when a half-naked woman could come on screen anytime?? This is America’s Pastime. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about this.”
The Dodgers outfielder’s comments quickly attracted attention, adding a prominent professional player’s voice to the discussion about whether provocative commercials belong during sporting events watched by families.
Sydney Sweeney’s Novig Campaign Sparked Controversy
At the center of the dispute is Sweeney’s advertising campaign for Novig, a sports-prediction platform that promotes trading and wagering on sports-related outcomes.
In the original advertisement, the “Euphoria” actress appears without clothing while strategically covering her body with sports equipment. The campaign uses her appearance to draw attention to the platform’s message that it is focused on sports.
The commercial has divided audiences, with some viewers treating it as provocative marketing while others question whether its presentation is appropriate for a company promoting sports-related predictions.
Sweeney, 29, has not directly responded to Call’s criticism. However, she has publicly defended her involvement in the campaign, saying she believes in the company’s leadership and message.
Sydney Sweeney Released Another Provocative Ad
The actress released another Novig advertisement on October 11, further intensifying the discussion.
In the newer commercial, she appears wearing branded underwear and holding footballs against her chest while addressing the attention surrounding her appearance.
“There are grown men making spreadsheets to bet on what color underwear I’m wearing,” she says in the advertisement. “I mean, I’m flattered?”
The commercial continues the campaign’s approach of using Sweeney’s appearance and humor to attract attention to the platform.
Female Athletes Criticize The Actress’s Ad Campaign
Call is not the first person from the sporting world to object to Sweeney’s commercials.
Several female athletes have criticized the campaign, arguing that its emphasis on the actress’s body reinforces the same stereotypes women in sports have spent years challenging.
Four-time Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus was among those who expressed concern about the advertisement’s approach to women’s bodies.
Former UCLA gymnast Gracie Kramer also criticized the broader message, arguing that female athletes have long fought to be recognized for their performances rather than their appearance.
Novig Defended Their Sydney Sweeney Ad Amid Heavy Backlash
British sprinter Amy Hunt, Australian water-polo player Tilly Kearns and rugby player Sofie Fella have also voiced objections to Sweeney’s ad campaign.
They argue that using sexualized imagery to promote a sports-related product can undermine efforts to establish women’s credibility and visibility in athletic spaces.
However, Novig has defended the campaign. According to the Daily Beast, the company’s CEO, Jack Fortinsky, said the business strongly supports women’s sports and did not intend to portray Sweeney as a female athlete.
Instead, he described her as an actress delivering a message about the platform.
Sweeney, for her part, reacted to the backlash by posting images of famous athletes posing nude on the cover of ESPN’s Body Issue.
