Actor Ruby Rose has launched a scathing public attack on the new boxing biopic Christy and its star, Sydney Sweeney, while revealing she was once in contention for a role in the project herself.
A Fiery Social Media Rebuke
In a fiery post shared on Threads early Tuesday, the Orange Is the New Black alum did not hold back her criticism. Rose disclosed that she had been attached to play a character named Cherry, an apparent reference to the role based on Christy Martin's real-life girlfriend, Sherry Lusk. Rose described the original script as "incredible" and "life-changing," noting that most of the initial team had personal experience with the core material and that many were part of the LGBTQ+ community. "It's part of why I stayed in acting," she wrote, acknowledging that losing roles is a common occurrence in the industry.
The Core of the Controversy
Rose's primary issue, however, was with the public defense of the film by Sweeney's representatives following its disappointing box office debut. The film earned a mere $1.3 million in its U.S. opening weekend, despite previously receiving respectable reviews at film festivals. Rose took aim at the PR narrative that Sweeney made the film "for the people."
"None of 'the people' want to see someone who hates them, parading around pretending to be us," Rose asserted. Addressing Sweeney directly, she added a harsh condemnation: "You're a cretin and you ruined the film. Period. Christy deserved better."
Sweeney's Defense and Broader Context
Representatives for Sydney Sweeney have not yet responded to requests for comment on Rose's remarks. However, the Euphoria star had already defended her work on Monday in response to criticism of the film's financial performance. On Instagram, Sweeney emphasized that art is not solely created for commercial success but for its impact.
"We all signed on to this film with the belief that christy's story could save lives," Sweeney wrote. She expressed pride in the project, stating that if the film gives "even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded."
This controversy adds another layer to a tumultuous period for Sweeney. In July, she was at the center of a media firestorm after an American Eagle ad campaign featuring her was criticized for its use of a "jeans" double entendre that some viewers interpreted as an allusion to eugenics. The debate even reached the White House, with figures like Vice President JD Vance and former President Donald Trump weighing in. In a recent GQ interview, Sweeney called the political support "surreal" and attempted to navigate the controversy cautiously.
