The biopic Christy, which was once billed as Sydney Sweeney’s big “serious actress” showcase, is now at the forefront of a fierce showdown between Ruby Rose and Sydney and her camp, whom Rose contends have “ruined” the biopic.
Rose expressed frustration with Sweeney and the publicity campaign involving the movie, as if to say that the original project was something special before “the wrong hands got a hold of it.”
“The original Christy Martin script was incredible. Life-changing. I was attached to play Cherr,” Rose continued, “Everyone had experience with the core material. Most of us were actually gay. It’s part of why I stayed in acting. Losing roles happens all the time. 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.”
The provocative declaration immediately sparked a viral firestorm, reigniting discussions online about authenticity and representation, the narratives and ethics of LGBTQ+ biopics, and the inclusion of straights portraying LGBTQ+ stories.
Sydney Sweeney Response: “We Don’t Always Make Art for Numbers”
Despite the negative reactions, Sydney Sweeney has kept a calm demeanor, showing nothing but pride and appreciation for the show. The two-time Emmy nominee shared an even more personal message on Instagram, recalling the significance of “Christy,” a show that adapts the life of female boxing legend Christy Martin, a female icon and a symbol of hope amidst a life surrounded by domestic violence.
“Christy has been the most impactful project of my life,” Sweeney wrote. “I am so deeply proud of this movie. Proud of the film David [Michôd] made. Proud of the story we told. Proud to represent someone as strong and resilient as Christy Martin.”
“This film stands for survival, courage, and hope. Through our campaigns, we’ve helped raise awareness for so many affected by domestic violence. If Christy gave even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded,” she explained.
Sweeney went on to discuss the box office, which was a letdown, with Christy opening to just 1.3 million dollars in 2,011 theaters…. ‘We don’t always just make art for numbers,’ Sweeney says. “We make it for impact.”
Box Office Woes and Behind-the-Scenes Drama
Black Bear’s Christy was set to be the initial success under this new distribution wing, a $15 million passion project screening as part of the Toronto International Film Festival, with Sweeney leading the cast. The initial marketing, however, went haywire early as they removed their North American sales rights from TIFF on the first day, opting to self-distribute Christy instead.
The action has been described as surprising even to people familiar with the industry by insiders, which may have worked against the movie’s promotion, despite it receiving a respectable B+ CinemaScore and a 98% audience score, as well as a 67% critical reception rate, as seen on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, Sweeney went all out for the part, allegedly gaining 35 pounds, training in a boxing gym at her grandmother’s house in Idaho, and even attending question-and-answer sessions all over Los Angeles, including at AMC Century City last Friday.
