AceShowbiz - Brett Cooper is defending Sydney Sweeney against female athletes who have criticized the actress over her Novig betting advertisement, arguing that the same critics would be celebrating if Lizzo or Sabrina Carpenter had starred in the campaign.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Brett Cooper Show, Cooper said she personally thinks the women attacking Sweeney are being idiotic. She argued that if Lizzo or Carpenter had done the same ad for Novig, women online would probably be cheering about women's liberation and body positivity. But because it was Sweeney of all people, Cooper said, women online, specifically female athletes, have set themselves back.

Cooper also raised the question of whether the ad could be seen as a boss move from Sweeney, noting that the actress is a partial owner of the company and creatively directed the ad. She suggested that Sweeney is shattering the glass ceiling in the sports betting industry through her involvement.

Beyond defending Sweeney, Cooper turned her attention to what she described as the real issue with the advertisement. She said that contrary to popular belief, it would not have been better if a real female athlete had appeared in the ad, nor would it have been better if a man had been featured. According to Cooper, the real issue is not the sexual factor of the ad but what it is selling. She described online gambling as a pervasive addiction that is being normalized in society and warned that it will destroy families and livelihoods. That, she said, is what Sweeney is choosing to promote, and that is actually the real exploitation.

Cooper made these comments during the latest episode of her show, where she regularly weighs in on cultural and media controversies. The segment focused on the ongoing discussion surrounding Sweeney's partnership with Novig, a sports betting platform.

The host's remarks come as the debate over the advertisement continues, with Cooper positioning herself as a defender of Sweeney while simultaneously criticizing the product being promoted. Her argument centers on the idea that the criticism directed at Sweeney is inconsistent, given that other female celebrities would likely receive a different response for the same campaign.

Cooper did not hold back in her assessment of the athletes who have spoken out against Sweeney, suggesting their objections are rooted in a double standard. She pointed out that when conservatives argue for less sexual content in media, they are often labeled as oppressive bigots holding back women's liberation. Yet, she noted, when a woman owns her sexuality and shares it with the world, it is apparently acceptable only if it is for other women. If men are allowed to notice without attacking them, Cooper said, it is framed as setting women back 100 years.

The episode also touched on the broader implications of celebrity endorsements in the gambling industry, with Cooper emphasizing the potential harm of normalizing such products. She maintained that the focus should remain on what the ad is selling rather than the identity of the person in it.

Sweeney's involvement with Novig as a partial owner and creative director has been a point of discussion, and Cooper's comments add another layer to the conversation. The actress has not publicly responded to the criticism or to Cooper's defense.

For those interested in hearing Cooper's full remarks, the latest episode of The Brett Cooper Show is available, and a video clip of the segment can be viewed above.