Sydney Sweeney posted a series of photos on Instagram showing her with dark hair while enjoying a day at the Santa Monica Pier with a friend. In the caption, she wrote, “When ur bestie shows up and says here put this wig on,” and the images quickly sparked reactions online, with some users saying they didn’t recognize her and others calling the brunette look a fresh change. The appearance comes as the actress continues to deal with criticism over her recent sports betting ad for Novig. The original ad, which showed her nearly nude with sports equipment, drew fire from athletes and critics who argued it sexualized women in sports. Sweeney later defended the campaign by pointing to famous athletes who have posed nude for ESPN’s Body Issue, and she released a follow‑up ad where she appears in white underwear, joking about people betting on the color of her underwear.
