Christy Martin Backs Sydney Sweeney: ‘She Worked Her Ass Off’ Amid Ruby Rose Fury
When Ruby Rose unleashed a furious social‑media tirade, calling Sydney Sweeney a “cretin” and claiming the biopic about boxing icon Christy Martin was ruined, the backlash could have gone unchecked. But Martin stepped in firmly, taking to Instagram to call Sweeney her “friend and ally” and praising her dedication to telling Martin’s story. This moment echoes other Hollywood cast controversies — remember when the global press erupted after Gal Gadot was cast as Cleopatra?
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The recently released biopic Christy, based on the life of former pro‑boxer Christy Martin, opened to a disappointing box‑office haul — around $1.3 million domestically despite a wide release in over 2,000 theatres.
Shortly after, actress Ruby Rose launched a blistering attack on Sydney Sweeney, who plays Martin in the film, accusing her of being unfit to tell the story and blaming her for the flop.
Ruby Rose’s Critique
On Threads, Rose objected to what she called a shift away from the original script that she claimed was “life‑changing” and queer‑led. In her words:
“The original Christy Martin script was incredible. Life changing. … 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. You’re a cretin and you ruined the film. Period. Christy deserved better.”
Rose’s message also leaned heavily into the idea of representation, claiming many cast and creative team members originally “were actually gay” and now felt sidelined.
Christy Martin’s Response
Enter Martin — the subject of the film and one who knows these stories intimately. She took to Instagram with a photo of herself and Sweeney, writing:
“I’ve always been a fighter. My life reflected that in every way and now I fight for others. 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. So I want to be clear about who Syd is. She is my friend and ally!”
By defending Sweeney, Martin made a clear statement about who she believes truly told her story and honoured her legacy.
Behind the Fallout
The tensions around Christy aren’t just about casting — they intersect politics, identity and box‑office realities. Some background points:
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The film deals with Martin’s rise in a male‑dominated sport and her battle with domestic abuse, making it a sensitive and complex story.
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Sweeney has faced her own controversies recently, including a campaign for American Eagle with perceived problematic undertones and political affiliation scrutiny.
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For many in the LGBTQ+ community, Rose’s critique landed as a commentary on representation and authenticity: the idea that a film about a lesbian athlete should be inclusive of queer voices.
All of this set the stage for a public showdown that, in many ways, reflected bigger cultural questions.
What It Means
While Ruby Rose’s critiques focus on representation and respect, Martin’s defence of Sweeney emphasises intention and collaboration. The clash raises discussion points:
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Who gets to tell whose story?
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Does a box‑office failure reflect on the star, the story, or the system?
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How do identity, politics and casting align (or clash) in modern Hollywood?
For Martin’s part, her support for the film and for Sweeney suggests she’s choosing to focus on the impact rather than just the numbers. Sweeney herself said:
“If Christy gave even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded. So yes I’m proud
Conclusion
The spotlight has shifted from the ring to the red carpet, and this story illustrates more than a biopic gone wrong — it’s about respect, representation and the cost of stories not aligned with community expectations. As Christy Martin stands by Sydney Sweeney, many will watch how the film is judged not just for its earnings, but for the influence it has on viewers and the industry’s future choices. Because when a story is about the vulnerable, the stakes are higher than the credits.