Comedian Tim Dillon has vocally defended actress Sydney Sweeney following criticism of her nearly-nude advertisement for sports prediction company Novig. Critics, including female athletes, argued that the ad contributed to the hyper-sexualization of women.

Sweeney appeared in several shots in the advertisement, with sports equipment strategically covering her bare body. Dillon, on his podcast, questioned the criticism from these athletes, suggesting that the advertisement shouldn’t be controversial.

He said, “No one is valuing female athletes for what they look like. Female athletes are great and we love them and we respect them and they’re important, but no one thinks because Sydney Sweeney, a hot actress, put her…in a football, that everyone is sexualizing female athletes now.”

Dillon identified Australian surfer Felicity Palmateer, who criticized the advertisement as “very damaging,” particularly for young females in sport, as one of the critical athletes.

Sydney Sweeney received backlash online for posing nude with sports equipment in Novig’s first national campaign. Dillon predicted that the uproar would make Sweeney an even more desirable choice for companies seeking attention-grabbing advertisements.

Meanwhile, Sweeney responded to criticism by highlighting ESPN magazine covers featuring nude athletes like Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey, suggesting a societal inconsistency in the reaction to her ads.

In support of Sweeney, Craig Carton of The Craig Carton Show also defended the actress, dismissing claims that her photos could harmfully impact the women’s movement. Carton argued that those critical of Sweeney were often inconsistent in their views.

Carton stated, “The world’s going crazy when it comes to the photographs of Sydney Sweeney… For the non-crazies, she belongs in prison for the rest of her life.” This was in reference to differing opinions on figures like Lindsay Clancy, whom some view controversially.

The debate over Sweeney’s advertisement has spurred discussions on societal standards and the portrayal of women in media.