Zendaya’s Mom Joins Sydney Sweeney Naked Ad Controversy With Strong Remarks
Sydney Sweeney is once again at the center of a heated online debate, but this time the discussion has taken an unexpected turn. The actress recently starred in a provocative advertising campaign for Novig, a sports prediction platform she partly owns, and the reaction has now drawn Zendaya’s family into the conversation.
The controversy began with a new Novig campaign featuring Sweeney appearing almost completely naked, using various sports equipment to cover parts of her body. The ad quickly ignited criticism, with many arguing that the issue extended beyond Sweeney’s nudity to the message the campaign could convey to young women.
British sprinter Amy Hunt was among the athletes who spoke out against the campaign. After competing at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hunt responded to the controversy with a pointed message directed at Sweeney: “Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like.”
Sweeney later responded to the backlash in her own way. On Instagram, she shared images of famous male and female athletes who have posed nude over the years, seemingly questioning why her campaign was being scrutinized differently. However, this did not quell the debate.
Another voice has now entered the conversation. Zendaya’s mother, Claire Stoermer, shared several posts on her Instagram Story criticizing the campaign. Notably, her posts did not focus primarily on Sweeney’s nudity. Instead, they centered on the underlying message of the advertisement and the business associated with it.
One of the posts featured a mother discussing the implications of raising daughters in what she referred to as the “Sydney Sweeney era.” The woman expressed that she had no issue with Sweeney choosing to showcase her body, as that is ultimately the actress’s choice. Her concern was the mixed messages young girls might receive when taught that their appearance does not define their worth, while simultaneously witnessing celebrities receive significant attention for their looks.
Stoermer seemed to resonate with that argument, adding the comment, “Great thinking!!” when she shared the post.
She then shared a video from influencer Jackie Johnston, who focuses on women’s sports. Johnston took an even firmer stance, asserting that Sweeney’s nudity was actually “the least problematic part” of the entire advertisement.
Johnston’s critique centered on Novig and the broader questions surrounding sports prediction platforms, their operations, and the ongoing debate over regulation. In essence, her argument was less about Sweeney’s nudity and more about the company she was endorsing and whether celebrities should leverage their influence to promote businesses linked to sports betting and prediction markets.
Stoermer appeared intrigued by that perspective as well. She described Johnston’s video as “very, very interesting” and added a raised-eyebrow emoji when sharing it.
The situation has also reignited long-standing rumors regarding Sweeney and Zendaya. The two actresses, who worked together on ‘Euphoria’, have been the subject of speculation about tension between them for years. According to the Daily Mail, those rumors intensified in late 2025, when it was reported that the actresses allegedly did not want to be in the same room due to personal and political disagreements.
There has been no confirmation from Zendaya regarding those claims, and Sweeney has previously dismissed the notion of a major feud. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she countered stories about issues within the ‘Euphoria’ cast, explaining that they essentially grew up together while filming the series.
Sweeney stated, “We all basically grew up together on the set, and so it’s really crazy to watch the media and social media twist things.” She also clarified that ‘Euphoria’ had contractual priority over her other projects, meaning her schedule had to accommodate the show’s production.
Sweeney added, “So my schedule did not affect the show. It was funny watching everyone make up stories about it. We had the same contractual priority, so there was no possibility that someone’s schedule was slowing down filming.”
For now, Stoermer’s posts do not confirm anything about the rumored relationship between her daughter and Sweeney. However, they do add another layer to a growing debate that extends beyond a celebrity’s fashion choice. What are your thoughts on Claire Stoermer’s reaction to Sydney Sweeney’s controversial Novig campaign?
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