Sharon Stone is 68, and the memory of “Basic Instinct” is still attached to her name. Even so, she asked Sydney Sweeney to “take responsibility” for her nearly nude ad for the betting app Novig.
She said this to People at Variety’s Power of Women event in Beverly Hills, and clarified that it’s not her place to judge Sweeney. But she was direct about the core issue: “We can’t denigrate women’s sports to attract men’s attention and get them to bet”. She declared herself a champion of women’s sports champions and, according to Entertainment Weekly, didn’t discuss the details of the ad.
The commercial shows Sweeney covering herself with balls and sports protective gear, and the athletes’ reaction was fierce. Ariarne Titmus wrote that she couldn’t describe her indignation and that it was a slap in the face to those who had devoted their lives to their sport. Sweeney responded by showing covers featuring Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey. Last year, Stone had defended her over the American Eagle jeans, and now she doesn’t support her. Does someone who became famous by showing herself on screen have the authority to lecture others?