"Naked Again?" Controversial Actress Crosses a Line... Slammed for Sexualizing 'Child Characters'

Sydney Sweeney under fire for sexualizing child characters
Lingerie ad parodies "Home Alone" and "The Grinch"

Renowned Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney, 29, has been at the center of controversy in recent days over a series of provocative, revealing appearances. Shortly after she was criticized for appearing nude in a recent ad for a sports betting platform, with critics saying it sexually objectified women's sports, she is now facing controversy over the sexualization of child characters. In an ad for the lingerie brand she founded, she recreated characters from children's movies in an adult lingerie style.

Actress Sydney Sweeney, who was previously criticized for a nude ad, has once again sparked controversy, this time for recreating a character from a children's movie in an ad for her lingerie brand. Sydney Sweeney's Instagram.

Characters Played by Children in Lingerie Ads... Criticism of "Sexualizing Children"

According to foreign media outlets including Page Six on Oct. 27, Sweeney recently posted a promotional video, about 30 seconds long, for new products from SYRN, her lingerie brand launched in January 2026, on her Instagram account. Aimed at the Halloween and Christmas seasons, the video features Sweeney in outfits that evoke iconic scenes and characters from well-known movies.

The issue is that many of the characters being parodied were played by children. The video opens with Sweeney sitting in front of an old television and eating ice cream in pajamas reminiscent of Kevin, the protagonist of "Home Alone." She then wears a checkered outfit and hairstyle reminiscent of Cindy Lou Who from "The Grinch" and lifts a tower of gift boxes. Macaulay Culkin, who played Kevin in "Home Alone," was 9 during filming, while Taylor Momsen, who played Cindy Lou Who in "The Grinch," was just 7. Sweeney also reimagines Sally, the rag doll from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and Emily from "Corpse Bride," among others, in black-and-red lingerie and makeup.

The video drew a wave of online criticism. Some users said, "It's inappropriate to use child characters to promote adult underwear and sexualize them." Others defended the ad, saying, "They're just pajamas or character outfits, not lingerie," and describing the styling as a fresh take on Halloween costumes.

Sports World Outraged by "Nude" Sports Betting Ad... Company Valuation Soars

This is not the first time Sweeney has faced such controversy. In September 2026, she drew fierce criticism for a one-minute ad for sports prediction platform Novig, in which she performed tennis, basketball, baseball and hockey while wearing minimal clothing or appearing nude, covering her breasts with her hair and her private parts with a rugby ball. Women's sports groups immediately voiced their anger over the video, in which she appeared wearing underwear for just eight seconds.

Australian Olympic swimming gold medalist Ariarne Titmus strongly criticized the ad, saying it was "like a slap in the face to female athletes who have spent their lives honing their skills." American gymnast Gracie Kramer also shared footage of actual training and criticized the ad for undermining the essence of women's sports. Sweeney fired back by posting photos of female sports stars, including Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey, who had posed nude in the past. A month later, she released a second revealing ad, appearing topless and covering her breasts with two American footballs.

Despite the criticism, the marketing impact was striking. Immediately after the ad, Novig's valuation quadrupled, rising from $500 million (663.2 billion won) to $2 billion (2.653 trillion won). Sweeney was reportedly involved not merely as a spokesperson for the platform, but as a strategic partner with an ownership stake.

From "Eugenics" Slogan Controversy to "MAGA Barbie"... A Series of Backlash

The controversies surrounding Sweeney appear to have expanded beyond her revealing appearances to include political and social issues. In July 2025, when she appeared in a jeans ad for clothing brand American Eagle, the tagline "Sydney Sweeney has great genes/jeans" drew criticism. The play on "genes" and "jeans" was said to evoke white supremacist and eugenicist ideas.

An advertisement criticized for evoking white supremacist and eugenicist ideas. American Eagle

In August 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump drew political attention to Sweeney when he cited a report on his personal account saying she was registered as a Republican and publicly remarked, "Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the hottest ad." During this period, the online nickname "MAGA Barbie" gained traction, fueling further debate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.