Key Highlights
- Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Alex Call publicly called on Major League Baseball and major television networks to pull revealing Novig advertisements starring actress Sydney Sweeney from postseason broadcasts.
- Prominent athletes and sports figures, including British sprinter Amy Hunt, Australian Olympic medalist Tilly Kearns, and Genevieve Albernaz, have also criticized the campaign’s portrayal of women.
- The public debate erupted during a critical playoff stretch as the Dodgers faced a 2-0 deficit against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.
Alex Call Challenges MLB and Networks Over Postseason Commercials
As the Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to rescue their postseason run, veteran outfielder Alex Call has shifted public focus toward the nature of television advertisements airing during the Major League Baseball playoffs. The 32-year-old outfielder voiced strong frustration over a high-profile marketing campaign for the sports prediction market platform Novig, which stars 29-year-old actress Sydney Sweeney in revealing attire.
Posting to social media platform X early Wednesday ahead of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series between the Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers, Call directly tagged MLB, TBS, Fox, and NBC. He questioned why family audiences tuning in to America’s pastime are being exposed to sexually suggestive material during high-stakes games.
“Can we please get the soft porn ads off playoff broadcasts, TBS, Fox, NBC, @MLB?”
Call wrote. “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.”
Widespread Backlash Surrounding Novig’s Marketing Strategy
The advertisements form part of Novig’s “Just Sports” campaign, an attention-grabbing initiative designed to promote its prediction platform during premium broadcast windows, including Tuesday’s American League Championship Series matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays. While Call’s primary objection focuses on age appropriateness and family viewing environments, several female athletes and sports figures have condemned the campaign on different grounds.
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Genevieve Albernaz, the wife of Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, voiced criticism on social media while watching ALCS coverage. Meanwhile, British sprinter Amy Hunt and Australian Olympic water polo silver medalist Tilly Kearns have raised objections regarding how the imagery portrays women within the broader realm of sports marketing. Together, the mounting reactions have fueled scrutiny over Novig’s provocative creative strategy during programming that draws a diverse, multigenerational viewership.
Call’s Dodgers Campaign and Postseason Status
The controversy emerged against the backdrop of a difficult playoff series for the Dodgers, who entered Game 3 trailing the Brewers 2-0 in the NLCS. Call, who appeared in 88 regular-season games for Los Angeles in 2026 while posting a .233 batting average and a .349 on-base percentage, is not currently participating on the field.
Having accumulated 403 Major League Baseball appearances across five seasons—including seven playoff games during the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship run—Call was left off the club’s 26-man roster for both the National League Division Series and the NLCS. Even without active on-field participation this October, his viral statements have intensified scrutiny on network broadcast standards.
Why This Matters
The backlash surrounding Novig’s campaign underscores an ongoing tension between television networks, modern sports betting and prediction platforms, and family-oriented sports traditions. As emerging platforms spend heavily on high-visibility marketing to capture market share during peak sporting events, networks must balance lucrative advertising revenue against broadcast standards and viewer sentiment. With elite athletes and baseball figures joining the discussion, the debate raises questions about whether leagues or regulatory bodies will introduce stricter guidelines for commercial content during live family broadcasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific advertisements did Alex Call criticize?
Alex Call criticized commercial spots for the sports prediction market platform Novig’s “Just Sports” campaign, which feature actress Sydney Sweeney in revealing imagery during MLB playoff broadcasts.
Which other sports figures have voiced concern about the campaign?
Beyond Alex Call, British Olympic sprinter Amy Hunt, Australian Olympic water polo silver medalist Tilly Kearns, and Genevieve Albernaz (wife of Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz) have publicly raised concerns regarding the campaign’s portrayal of women.
Is Alex Call currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2026 NLCS?
No. While Call played in 88 regular-season games for the Dodgers in 2026, he was not included on the team’s 26-man active roster for the NLDS or the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
