Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Alex Call drew the line this week at a Sydney Sweeney commercial that aired during the MLB playoffs, and he made clear he did not want his son seeing it on a baseball broadcast.
“Can we please get the soft porn ads off playoff broadcasts, TBS, Fox, NBC, @MLB?” Call posted via X on Wednesday.
“My son wants to watch baseball with Dada, but how do I justify that when a half-naked women could come on screen anytime?? This is America’s Pastime.
Parents shouldn’t have to worry about this.”
Call’s reaction came after Sweeney’s “Just Sports” ad for the trading platform Novig stirred controversy last month. The minute-long spot put the Hollywood actress at the center of a sexualized pitch that quickly divided viewers. One of the most discussed moments shows Sweeney posing completely unclothed while using sports props to cover herself, with the video building through a dark, moody sequence before ending on her holding two footballs in front of her chest.
The backlash followed the ad onto MLB playoff broadcasts, where it continued to draw complaints. Call was among those pushing back strongly, and his frustration played out publicly as baseball fans were watching.
The reaction in Los Angeles was noticeably warmer later that same day. During Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, Call got a positive reception from fans just hours after his post, with several people rising to give him a standing ovation.
Sweeney and Novig have since added to the conversation with a second provocative ad. In that spot, she wears white underwear and again finishes by holding two footballs against her body.
For now, another round of backlash appears unlikely to prompt a response from Sweeney.
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