Actress Sydney Sweeney, fresh off the release of her boxing biopic Christy, finds herself at the centre of a growing controversy.
The film – portraying the life of legendary boxer Christy Martin – grossed just $1.31 million across more than 2,200 theatres, making it one of the lowest-opening wide releases in recent memory.
Amid the disappointing box office figures, plus-size model and social-media figure Ruby Rose levelled a blistering critique. Rose accused Sweeney of sabotaging the project and launched verbal attacks that quickly went viral.
Rose’s remarks didn’t stop at box-office stats. She stated that the casting and subsequent publicity failed the story’s LGBTQ+ context and targeted Sweeney directly, labelling her a “cretin” and alleging she harboured anti-gay sentiments.
The criticism quickly expanded when screenshots emerged of commenters making derogatory remarks about Sweeney’s “new body” following her transformation for the role-comments Sweeney later addressed on her Instagram, where she posted her transformation footage and slammed body-shaming.
Fame, flop and body-shaming collide
Sweeney’s physical preparation for the film was extreme: she gained two-and-a-half stone to portray Martin and endured real hits in the ring, calling the process “the most exhilarating feeling.”
Yet the public focus has pivoted away from her performance to appearance and controversy. Critics say the film’s failure and ensuing social-media tempest reflect broader issues of representation, body image and the cost of Hollywood transformation for women.
Others simply believe this is a non-issue that is being ramped up merely because of Sweeney’s political leanings, which are uncommon in her industry.
Her Instagram response came via a montage of training footage clipped alongside screenshots of harsh comments, demonstrating her commitment to the role while rejecting attempts to reduce her to her size or looks. “I am who I am-my body is not a storyline,” she posted.
Despite that clarity, the backlash has amplified – from a commercial disappointment to a discussion about image, feminism and accountability in the entertainment industry.
For Sweeney, she is facing a reckoning on how women in Hollywood are judged and how their appearances are weaponised in the court of public opinion.
Cynics simply believe it is the jealousy that comes with being a conventially attractive woman in show business.
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