Sydney Sweeney's Novig Ad Slammed as Viewer Says 'We Don't Need Little Girls Seeing This' and Tells MLB 'Do Better'

Sydney Sweeney's Novig advert has drawn renewed attention after Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Alex Call called on Major League Baseball (MLB) and its broadcast partners to remove what he described as 'soft porn' commercials from play-off coverage. His comments raised concerns about advertising shown during games watched by children and their families.

Call was responding to a post that identified Sweeney's campaign among several advertising complaints. One viewer described the advert as 'gross' and argued that young girls should not be exposed to such imagery, while others defended the campaign and dismissed the criticism as excessive.

'The Ad Is Gross'

On Wednesday, 14 October, Call took to X to urge MLB and its broadcast partners to remove sexually suggestive adverts from play-off coverage.

'Can we please get the soft porn ads off playoff broadcasts, TBS, Fox, NBC, @MLB?' he wrote.

Call said his son wanted to watch baseball with him and argued that parents should not have to worry about inappropriate commercials appearing unexpectedly during games.

Although he did not name Sweeney or Novig in his own remarks, the post he was responding to identified her campaign among the adverts its author objected to watching with their children.

X user @WeathersWins agreed with Call, writing that he was 'right' and urging MLB to 'do better'.

'The ad is gross and we dont need little girls seeing this and thinking that its ok,' the user wrote.

Online Debate on Sydney Sweeney's Advert

Other social media users backed Call's concerns, arguing that parents should not have to contend with sexually suggestive advertising during baseball games.

Some said boys should also be considered in discussions about inappropriate material, while others complained that the commercials made watching baseball with their children uncomfortable. The criticism also extended to the combination of revealing imagery and gambling-related promotions during the play-offs.

The response was not unanimous, however. Some users defended the commercial, arguing that it was no worse than other television advertising and that the complaints were excessive.

The comments reflected differing views about the boundaries of sports advertising and what families should expect during televised games. They also brought renewed attention to a campaign that had already drawn criticism from athletes over its portrayal of women in sport.

Why Sydney Sweeney's Novig Advert Is Facing Backlash

The controversy centres on Sweeney's 'Just Sports' campaign for Novig, a sports prediction market platform. Launched on 9 September 2026, the campaign features the actress posing with sports equipment positioned to cover her body.

It previously drew criticism from female athletes who argued that its presentation sexualised women and undermined efforts to secure greater recognition for their achievements in sport.

Australian Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus and British sprinter Amy Hunt were among those who challenged the campaign's portrayal of women. American gymnast Gracie Kramer also responded by sharing footage highlighting her sporting performances.

Those objections focused on how women are represented in sports marketing. Call's complaint, by contrast, concerned the suitability of commercials during broadcasts watched by children and their parents.

Critics of the campaign have questioned whether using Sweeney's near-naked appearance to promote a sports prediction platform reinforces stereotypes about women in sport. Defenders have argued that the reaction places excessive weight on an ordinary advertising campaign.

Call's intervention has brought the discussion back to the baseball broadcasts carrying the adverts, with his request directed at MLB and its television partners.