Poppie Platt has deleted her X account after criticising Sydney Sweeney over her controversial Novig sports prediction advert, as the online reaction to the Telegraph writer's column became increasingly focused on the writer herself.
Platt attracted attention after publishing a column on 14 September titled 'Sydney Sweeney is not a girl's girl', in which she questioned the actress's public image and wrote that she was 'what patriarchy's dreams are made of'. The article came as Sweeney faced criticism over the campaign, which features her posing with sports equipment in various states of undress.
The advert, released on 9 September, prompted criticism from female athletes who argued that its presentation of Sweeney did not reflect the dedication and achievements of women in sport. Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus and British sprinter Amy Hunt were among those to voice their objections.
As the debate spread across social media, attention shifted from Sweeney's advert to Platt's commentary, with posts circulating about the writer and reports that she had subsequently deleted her X account.
Platt's Criticism of Sweeney Fuels Debate
Platt's column focused on Sweeney's image and her involvement with Novig, a US sports prediction market. In the piece, she questioned whether the actress's choices were compatible with being considered a 'girl's girl', while also examining the public image Sweeney has developed.
Sweeney's Novig campaign had already become a major talking point after its release. The advert shows the actress appearing to play sports including tennis, golf and basketball while using sporting equipment to cover her body.
Female athletes and other critics argued that the campaign sexualised women in sport and risked overshadowing the work of professional female athletes. Titmus strongly criticised the advert, describing it as 'a kick in the face' and questioning the way women's sport was being represented, while other sportswomen shared photographs of themselves training and competing in response.
Sweeney appeared to respond to the criticism by sharing images connected to ESPN's The Body Issue, which has featured nude professional athletes. The comparison itself became another point of debate, with critics arguing that the context surrounding those images was different from a commercial campaign promoting a sports prediction platform.
The dispute surrounding the advert has therefore extended beyond the campaign itself, with Sweeney's role, image and decision to participate becoming subjects of wider discussion.
Reddit Users Debate Whether Backlash Went Too Far
A Reddit discussion about the dispute showed how the argument had developed into a separate debate over the nature of online criticism. Users discussed Platt's reported deletion of her X account and whether public figures who criticise others should expect a degree of negative reaction themselves.
One commenter wrote: 'A little bullying is good for people.'
Another user agreed, while attempting to draw a distinction between criticism and serious abuse: 'Dude! I'm gonna get flamed for this, but I agree with you .... I'm not saying people should bully others aggressively or pile on to a point that causes real harm. Maybe just making them question their decisions.'
Some of the comments illustrate the divide over whether online backlash can be viewed as criticism intended to challenge someone's decisions or as harassment when directed at an individual.
Other users in the discussion questioned assumptions about Platt's motives and whether the reaction to her column had become excessively personal. The Reddit discussion itself does not establish why Platt deleted her X account, and claims about her motives remain online speculation.
