The real-life subject of Sydney Sweeney’s new movie is speaking out on the “Euphoria” actor’s behalf following criticism of her performance.
On Wednesday, former professional boxer Christy Martin shared a photo of her and Sweeney on the set of “Christy,” which hit theaters last week.
“I’ve always been a fighter. My life reflected that in every way and now I fight for others,” Martin wrote in the caption. “The past few days I have seen some people attack my friend Sydney Sweeney. Syd not only worked her ass off for this film, she worked her ass off for me. For my story. For so many others suffering in silence.”
She went on to note: “So I want to be clear about who Syd is. She is my friend and ally!”
Martin’s post came a day after actor Ruby Rose, best known for Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” blasted Sweeney’s portrayal of Martin in “Christy” while acknowledging she’d once been attached to the biopic herself.
“Everyone had experience with the core material. Most of us were actually gay. It’s part of why I stayed in acting,” Rose wrote on Threads. “For her PR to talk about it flopping and saying SS did it for the ‘people.’ None of ‘the people’ want to see someone who hates them, parading around pretending to be us.”
Addressing Sweeney directly, she continued: “You’re a cretin and you ruined the film. Period. Christy deserved better.”
Directed by David Michôd, “Christy” details Martin’s astonishing rise in the world of 1990s women’s boxing. The film doesn’t shy away from the queer athlete’s sexuality as well as her experiences with addiction and domestic violence, most notably in her marriage to husband and trainer Jim Martin, played by Ben Foster.
Though “Christy” garnered mostly positive reviews following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the movie raked in just $1.3 million at the U.S. box office in its opening weekend. Many outlets suggested the film’s lackluster performance was the result of lingering backlash to Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle ad campaign, unveiled in July, as well as her reported political views.
Sweeney, however, has brushed aside the criticism and insisted she’s “deeply proud” of her performance in “Christy.”
“we all signed on to this film with the belief that christy’s story could save lives,” she wrote on Instagram Monday. “thank you to everyone who saw, felt, and believed and will believe in this story for years to come. if christy gave even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded.”