Ruby Rose is taking a swing at Sydney Sweeney after Christy’s box office failure.
The film, which sees Sweeney portray trailblazing professional boxer Christy Martin, had a disastrous box office debut last weekend. Earning just $1.3 million domestically, Christy now ranks among the top 12 worst openings for films playing on more than 2,000 screens, according to Box Office Mojo. Alluding to that gross, Rose says Sweeney is to blame for the film’s poor box office.
“The original Christy Martin script was incredible. Life changing,” Rose wrote Tuesday on Threads. “I was attached to play Cherry. Everyone had experience with the core material. Most of us were actually gay. It’s part of why I stayed in acting.”
The Batwoman star went on to acknowledge that “losing roles happens all the time,” but didn’t hold back when it came to voicing frustration about Sweeney being the one to portray the lesbian boxer.
Sam Tabone/Getty
Ruby Rose in 2023
Rose, who also identifies as a lesbian, continued, “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.”
Representatives for Sweeney and Christy did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment.
Rose’s remarks came days after Sweeney addressed the film’s disappointing box office debut on social media, stating that she remains “deeply proud” of the project regardless of the money it makes in theaters.
“This experience has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Sweeney wrote Monday on Instagram of portraying Martin. “This film stands for survival, courage, and hope. Through our campaigns, we’ve helped raise awareness for so many affected by domestic violence. We all signed on to this film with the belief that Christy’s story could save lives.”
She added, “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. Why? Because we don’t always just make art for numbers, we make it for impact.”
The film not only traces Martin’s professional achievements but also delves into the turmoil of her personal life as a survivor of domestic abuse. Martin married her coach Jim Martin in 1991 and nearly two decades later, he attempted to murder her in their home. He was ultimately found guilty of attempted murder in the second degree. The athlete, who identifies as a lesbian, is now married to rival boxer Lisa Holewyne.
For her part, Martin has only spoken highly of the actress while making the rounds with Sweeney on the film’s press tour. Celebrating Christy’s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the retired boxer praised Sweeney’s ability to disappear into the role.
Courtesy of TIFF
Sydney Sweeney in ‘Christy’
“She got to be this totally different person that none of you expected,” she told the crowd. “She wasn’t the beautiful, sexy Sydney. She was the tough, rugged Christy in this movie. And I think it’s awesome. She kicks ass!”
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Meanwhile, Sweeney has been under fire for her divisive American Eagle ad campaign, released in July, which played up the homophones “jeans” and “genes,” leading many to accuse the ad of utilizing racist eugenics language. Sweeney initially stayed silent on the controversy while conservative figures from Megyn Kelly to President Donald Trump weighed in to voice support for her.
When Sweeney finally addressed the issue earlier this month, she declined to respond to the “genetic superiority” criticism and told GQ, “I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear.” Amid the firestorm, it was revealed in August that Sweeney was a registered voter with the Republican Party.
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