Former professional boxer Christy Martin has stepped into the ring to defend actor Sydney Sweeney against criticism of her performance in the new biopic "Christy," which hit theaters last week.
Martin's Strong Defense
On Wednesday, Martin shared a photo of herself with Sweeney on the film set and wrote a powerful caption supporting the "Euphoria" actor. "I've always been a fighter. My life reflected that in every way and now I fight for others," Martin declared in her social media post.
The boxing legend directly addressed the recent criticism aimed at Sweeney, stating: "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."
Martin concluded her defense with a clear statement about their relationship: "So I want to be clear about who Syd is. She is my friend and ally!"
Ruby Rose's Criticism
Martin's supportive post came just one day after actor Ruby Rose, best known for her role in Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black," publicly criticized Sweeney's portrayal of the boxing champion. Rose revealed she had previously been attached to the biopic project 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, suggesting Sweeney wasn't the right choice for the role.
Rose specifically targeted Sweeney's public relations team and the actor herself, writing: "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."
In a direct message to Sweeney, Rose added: "You're a cretin and you ruined the film. Period. Christy deserved better."
About the Film and Box Office Performance
Directed by David Michôd, "Christy" details Martin's astonishing rise in the world of 1990s women's boxing. The film courageously explores the queer athlete's sexuality along with her experiences with addiction and domestic violence, particularly in her marriage to husband and trainer Jim Martin, portrayed by Ben Foster.
Despite receiving mostly positive reviews following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the movie earned just $1.3 million at the U.S. box office during its opening weekend. Several media outlets have suggested the film's underwhelming performance might be connected to lingering backlash from Sweeney's controversial American Eagle ad campaign in July, as well as her reported political views.
Sweeney has remained steadfast in her commitment to the project, insisting she's "deeply proud" of her performance in "Christy." In an Instagram post on Monday, the actor emphasized the film's potential impact: "we all signed on to this film with the belief that christy's story could save lives."
The actor expressed gratitude to supporters and highlighted the film's potential to help women in dangerous situations: "if christy gave even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded."
