Featured Image Credit: Phillip Faraone/WireImage / Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage
Topics: Celebrity, Sydney Sweeney, LGBTQ, TV And Film, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Celebrity, Sydney Sweeney, LGBTQ, TV And Film, Social Media
Warning: This article contains discussion of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community which some readers may find distressing.
Ruby Rose has issued a public statement slamming Sydney Sweeney following the release of her new movie, Christy.
Christy is a biographical sports drama film which chronicles the rise of former professional boxer Christy Martin (played by Sweeney) to become America's best-known female boxer in the 1990s. It also tells the story of how her coach-turned-husband attempted to murder her in 2010.
Despite marrying her manager, James V. 'Jim' Martin, in 1991, Martin was gay.
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She was aware she was a lesbian from '5th or 6th grade', and she was in a relationship with her basketball teammate, Sherry Lusk, throughout high school, of which her parents disapproved.
Check out the official Christy trailer here:
The flick, which hit cinemas earlier this month, ended up being a historic box office flop given that it reportedly opened to just $1.3 million (£989,814), per Attitude, marking it as one of the worst cinematic openings ever recorded for a queer film.
It reportedly had a $15 million budget.
And it's clear Ruby Rose wasn't too happy about the specific casting, given Sweeney's recent controversies.
Firstly, there was the whole selling her used bathwater ordeal, the viral American Eagle 'great jeans' ad and all the subsequent backlash that came after it.
Sweeney's ad's wordplay with 'jeans' and 'genes' sparked conversations on race and beauty standards, with many criticising the White Lotus actress for the move.
In an interview with GQ, the actress explained that she doesn't feel the need to respond to any controversy or rumours about herself, adding: "I’ve always believed that I’m not here to tell people what to think.
“I know who I am. I know what I value. I know that I’m a kind person. I know that I love a lot, and I know that I’m just excited to see what happens next. And so I don’t really let other people define who I am."
Speaking of the ad specifically, she continued: "I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans.
"I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life… I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for, and it was great jeans, it didn’t affect me one way or the other."
Taking to Threads yesterday (11 November), Orange Is the New Black star Rose claimed she was attached to star as Christy, penning: "The original Christy Martin script was incredible. Life changing. 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. Losing roles happens all the time."
She 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."
Rose then took the opportunity to directly address the Euphoria star: "You’re a cretin and you ruined the film. Period. Christy deserved better."
Sweeney herself took to Instagram two days ago to share a series of snaps, both behind-the-scenes and on set.
She began: "I am so deeply proud of this movie. Proud of the film David made. Proud of the story we told. Proud to represent someone as strong and resilient as Christy Martin. This experience has been one of the greatest honours of my life.
"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 rounded off: "Thank you to everyone who saw, felt, and believed and will believe in this story for years to come. 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. And Christy has been the most impactful project of my life. Thank you Christy. I love you."
Tyla has reached out to Sweeney's representatives for comment.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected]