Sydney Sweeney has once again found herself in the midst of online turmoil, this time due to Ruby Rose launching a scathing attack against the actress, labeling her a “cretin” and accusing her of sabotaging the new biopic, Christy.
This recent clash is just the latest in a series of conflicts between Sydney and left-leaning Hollywood personalities, who have criticized her for her political leanings in recent times.
Ruby, aged 39, expressed her frustrations on Threads on Monday night, revealing that she had initially been set to star in the movie about the renowned boxer and survivor of domestic abuse, Christy Martin.
According to the Orange Is the New Black star, she was initially part of the project and claimed that the initial cast was predominantly queer before the production changed its direction.
In her statement, Ruby mentioned, “The original Christy Martin script was fantastic. It was life-changing. I was set to play Cherry. Everyone involved had a deep connection to the core material. Most of us were part of the LGBTQ+ community. Losing roles is a common occurrence. For the PR to suggest that the film failed and imply that Sydney Sweeney did it for the ‘people’ is misleading. No one wants to see someone who despises them portraying them. You’ve ruined the film. Christy deserved better.”
The Mirror has reached out to both Ruby Rose and Sydney Sweeney’s representatives for their comments on the matter.
Ruby’s strong criticism followed a disappointing box office performance for Christy, making it one of the lowest-grossing films shown on over 2,000 screens domestically.
Despite facing casting critiques, the real Christy Martin has publicly stood by Sydney throughout the film’s promotional activities. The biopic depicts Christy’s journey as one of America’s most prominent female boxers in the 1990s and her harrowing escape from an abusive marriage in 2010.
Following her survival from the assault, Christy married her fellow boxer Lisa Holewyne in 2017 and became an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse.
Reflecting on her portrayal of the pioneering athlete, Sydney expressed, “Playing her felt like I had a newfound superpower…I felt almost invincible.”
She also highlighted Christy’s remarkable resilience, stating, “Christy embodies incredible strength…and I believe it has transcended into my personal life.”
However, the film’s release coincided with increased scrutiny over Sydney’s political stance. In recent times, she has faced backlash after confirming her affiliation with the Republican Party.
This information became public following a 2022 incident involving her mother’s 60th birthday celebration, where attendees wore “Make Sixty Great Again” hats and “Blue Lives Matter” shirts. Sydney clarified that the event was supposed to be a harmless celebration, not a political statement.
The conflict between her and Ruby Rose comes on the heels of another round of online backlash in August over her involvement in an American Eagle campaign, which featured the controversial line: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring…My jeans are blue.”
Critics deemed the advertisement “tone-deaf” and “eugenics-adjacent,” while some argued that the backlash was indicative of an increasingly hyper-critical online environment.
Just before Ruby’s outburst, Sweeney addressed Christy’s disappointing box office performance on Instagram, expressing her deep pride in the movie and emphasizing that if the film inspired even one woman to take a step towards safety, then it would be considered a success.
