Gladiators star and ex pro rugby player Jodie Ounsley wades into row over Sydney Sweeney’s controversial naked advert

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GLADIATORS star Jodie Ounsley has waded into the row over Sydney Sweeney’s controversial advert saying “we’ve worked hard to earn respect.”

Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney has received an onslaught of backlash after the debut of her racy advert for bookmaker Novig.

The 29-year-old Euphoria star could be seen posing up naked, using various pieces of sports equipment to cover up her modesty.

Sydney’s promotion has triggered fierce debate over the sexualisation of women in sport and Jodie is the latest to share her thoughts.

The ex professional rugby player said in an interview with Talk Sport: “We’ve worked hard to earn respect for the sport we play and not how we look.

“I think the advert is more focused on female bodies and how they look rather than the actual sport and what our bodies can do and you know what we can achieve in sport.

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The British sprint sensation had just finished fourth in the 200m final at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest when she used her post-race interview to make her feelings known.

Looking straight down the camera, Amy said: “Sydney Sweeney, this is what women’s sport looks like!”

“Hard work, sweat, blood, tears. This is a beautiful evening,” she added.

Amy is just one of hundreds of women in sport who have an issue with the ad.

Australian Olympic water polo star Tilly Kearns wrote on Instagram that she “absolutely f****** hate[d]” Sweeney’s new sports advert before sharing footage of athletes competing and branding it “real women’s sports content.”

Former Olympic runner Hannah Williams also joined the criticism on social media, posting footage of female sprinters and telling Sweeney: “This is women in sports btw”, while arguing female competitors already battle to be taken seriously.

The Housemaid star has been watching the backlash unfold online and has hit back on Instagram.

Taking to her stories, she shared snaps of sporting superstars, who have previously stripped off for photoshoots, including Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe.

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Tuesday 15 September

Genoa