Why Zendaya Refuses To Speak On Sydney Sweeney’s Ad Drama

Sydney Sweeney recently found herself again at the center of a heated public conversation, this time over a provocative campaign that has divided opinions across sports and Hollywood.

What began as an advertisement for sports betting platform Novig quickly became a much bigger debate about women, sports, and the use of sex appeal in advertising.

While some familiar names have been willing to make their feelings known, the silence of her former “Euphoria” costar, Zendaya, on the controversy has not gone unnoticed.

Why Zendaya Is Avoiding Speaking On Sydney Sweeney’s Nude Ad Controversy

As criticism continues to follow Sweeney’s Novig campaign, Zendaya has chosen not to publicly join the conversation.

Despite previous speculation about their relationship, a source claimed the actress has no interest in using the controversy as an opportunity to criticize her former “Euphoria” costar.

According to Star Magazine, Zendaya’s recent career success has given her even less reason to involve herself.

“After the year Zendaya has had at the box office, stooping to that low level and taking cheap, easy shots would be counterproductive,” the source said.

The insider added that Zendaya will not answer questions about Sweeney or take subtle jabs at her online. Instead, she is said to be concentrating on her own career and “keeping her hands clean.”

Her silence comes as criticism of Sweeney continues to grow. Although the source acknowledged that other major celebrities have publicly addressed the campaign,  Zendaya appears determined to stay away from the debate.

Hollywood Stars Have Weighed In On The Sydney Sweeney Issue

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Zendaya may be staying quiet, but other Hollywood figures have been far less hesitant to address Sweeney’s campaign.

The advertisement features the actress using sports equipment to cover herself while promoting Novig, an approach that drew objections from several female athletes.

Sharon Stone was among the stars who publicly criticized the campaign. Speaking to People Magazine, the veteran actress argued that Sweeney needed to “take responsibility” for participating in the advertisement.

Stone also questioned the message she believed the campaign sent about women and athletics. “We can’t denigrate women’s sports to get men’s attention so they can gamble,” she said.

Florence Pugh also appeared to acknowledge the controversy without directly issuing a statement. According to Deadline, she liked an Instagram post from marathon runner Lucy Davis. Her post criticized the sexualization of women in sports and questioned Sweeney’s participation in the campaign.

WNBA Player Sophie Cunningham Showed Her Support For The Actress Amid The Ad Controversy

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Amid the heavy backlash, Sweeney has also found some support. WNBA player Sophie Cunningham addressed the controversy on her “No Hesitation” podcast.

She questioned why the advertisement had generated such a strong response from other women in sports.

Cunningham acknowledged why female athletes might initially be uncomfortable with the campaign, but she did not believe Sweeney’s advertisement represented them or their fight for recognition.

“Why are girls mad? That is literally what she does; why is anyone mad?” Cunningham asked. Although she admitted she found aspects of the campaign “kind of weird,” she ultimately defended Sweeney’s choice, saying, “Go do your thing, sis.”

Cunningham maintained that the campaign was about promoting gambling rather than representing female athletes. In her view, the advertisement had “nothing to do with us,” putting her firmly at odds with some of Sweeney’s critics.

Zendaya And Sydney Sweeney’s Complicated History

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The latest controversy arrives amid long-term speculation that Zendaya and Sweeney’s relationship has become strained.

Those rumors intensified after Sweeney shared a collection of behind-the-scenes pictures from “Euphoria” Season 3 that included several cast members except Zendaya.

Some fans interpreted the omission as evidence of tension, although others pointed out that the pair had few scenes together.

Previous reports have also attributed the alleged distance between them partly to politics. A November 2025 Daily Mail report claimed their differing political views had created friction, noting that Sweeney is registered as a Republican voter.

The publication also alleged that Zendaya did not want to participate in joint press appearances with her costar; however, none of these claims have been publicly confirmed by any of the actresses.

Sydney Sweeney Allegedly Got ‘Flirty’ With Zendaya’s Beau

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Another unnamed source offered a more personal explanation for the rumored tension between Zendaya and Sweeney.

Speaking to a news outlet, the insider alleged that Sweeney had “the hots” for Zendaya’s fiancé, Tom Holland, and had been “flirty with him” when he visited the set.

The source claimed, “That did not go down well with Zendaya,” and claimed the women stopped spending much time together socially afterward.

With all the rumors and side talk from various sources, there has not been any confirmation of the idea that the two actresses are locked in a feud.