The newly released biopic Christy, inspired by the life of boxing legend Christy Martin, has sparked controversy following its disappointing box office debut. The film managed to earn only $1.3 million during its opening weekend despite premiering across more than 2,000 theaters, landing it among the weakest wide releases of the year.
Amid the underwhelming performance, actress Ruby Rose publicly criticized Sydney Sweeney, who plays the lead role in the film. Taking to Threads on November 10, Rose accused Sweeney of “ruining” the project and referred to her as a “cretin.” Rose further revealed that she had once been in talks to star in the movie herself, describing the original script as “incredible” and “life-changing.”
According to Rose, the film’s early creative team had a deep personal connection to the story, particularly because many of them were part of the LGBTQ+ community. She expressed frustration at losing the role but emphasized that the final version of the movie failed to capture the spirit of the original concept.
Rose’s comments came shortly after Sweeney’s PR team defended the film’s failure, claiming that she did the movie “for the people.” Rose responded by saying that audiences “don’t want to see someone who hates them pretending to represent them,” adding that “Christy deserved better.”
Despite the backlash, Sydney Sweeney maintained a positive stance about her involvement. In a recent Instagram post, she said she was “deeply proud” of portraying Christy Martin and called it “one of the greatest honors of my life,” describing the movie as a tribute to “survival, courage, and hope.”
Christy Martin herself praised Sweeney’s performance at the Toronto Film Festival in September, noting that the actress successfully portrayed her dual nature — the fierce boxer and the quiet, reserved individual behind the gloves.
