Link Lauren defended Sydney Sweeney against critics who say her latest advertisement for sports prediction company Novig has set women back. In a September 13 video posted to X, the podcaster claimed that many of them "can't even define what a woman is.""Let’s talk about that Sydney Sweeney ad. It’s sparked quite the debate. But I can’t help noticing that some of the people accusing Sydney Sweeney of “setting women back” can’t even define what a woman is."Lauren said he understood some of the concerns around the ad, including those from parents who don't want their children exposed to it. However, he singled out "female athletes," and accused them of hypocrisy for staying silent on gender issues in women's sports while now criticizing Sweeney.Link Lauren @itslinklaurenLINKLet’s talk about that Sydney Sweeney ad. It’s sparked quite the debate. But I can’t help noticing that some of the people accusing Sydney Sweeney of “setting women back” can’t even define what a woman is.You don’t have to like the ad to recognize the hypocrisy. Let’s discuss.Disclaimer: The opinions in this article do not reflect this publication's position, and are wholly attributed to the media personalities mentionedWhat Link Lauren said about the Sydney Sweeney backlashIn the video, Link Lauren described the Novig ad as explicit, adding that he understood why some parents objected to the ad's content. He also noted concerns about body image among young girls who might compare themselves to Sweeney.Lauren drew comparisons to past cultural moments, referencing Kim Kardashian's rise to fame, and said he wished for "a little bit of class back."His core criticism, however, was aimed at those calling the ad harmful to women's sports. In his opinion, certain critics had no standing to criticize Sweeney now. He said: "I welcome and accept all different viewpoints on my page, as you guys know by now, but I'm just not going to accept these liberals who want to attack Sydney Sweeney and say that she is hurting women and hurting women's rights."The podcaster also added that Sweeney holds equity in Novig and suggested critics should instead be "praising her as a girl boss." He welcomed differing viewpoints on the topic but wanted to "call out" alleged "hypocrites" he spotted in the response.More on the criticism of the Novig ad from female athletesThe recent Novig ad campaign features Sydney Sweeney largely unclothed while covering herself with sports equipment, according to The New York Times.The campaign prompted strong reactions from a number of female athletes, including four-time Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus, who wrote on Instagram that the ad was "a kick in the face to every woman who has dedicated her life to perfecting her craft."Gymnast Gracie Kramer posted a highlight video captioned, "IDK what Sydney Sweeney was doing, but this is what a woman in sports looks like," a post that inspired similar responses from athletes across multiple sports, according to Deadline. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostBritish sprinter Amy Hunt also addressed the ad directly in a BBC interview after a race, saying,"Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like. Muscles. Hard work, blood, sweat, tears."Sweeney has not directly responded to the criticism but posted images on Instagram Stories showing other female athletes, including Serena Williams, who have posed nude for past campaigns.Marketing professor Joshua Lewis told The New York Times the controversy may be a deliberate strategy for Novig, a smaller company aiming to raise its profile through polarizing publicity, noting the ad had already been viewed more than 40 million times.