Christy Martin defends Sydney Sweeney as criticism grows after Christy box office results

Christy Martin has publicly defended Sydney Sweeney following a wave of criticism directed at the actor after Christy underperformed at the box office.

Sweeney stars as Martin in the biopic, which depicts the boxer’s career achievements alongside her experiences of abuse by her coach-turned-husband. Martin was involved in the project throughout production and appeared with Sweeney at several promotional events, including the film’s world premiere at TIFF.

In an Instagram post, Martin addressed the backlash towards Sweeney, writing: “The past few days I have seen some people attack my friend Sydney Sweeney. Syd not only worked her ass off for this film, she worked her ass off for me. For my story. For so many others suffering in silence. So I want to be clear about who Syd is. She is my friend and ally!” She added that her own history as a fighter has shaped her commitment to standing up for others.

Christy earned $1.3 million in its North American debut despite having been produced for around $15 million and generating early awards speculation for Sweeney. The disappointing figures led to online commentary criticising the actor’s performance and commercial draw.

In response, Sweeney posted her own message, emphasising the personal significance of the project. “We don’t always just make art for numbers, we make it for impact,” she wrote. “And Christy has been the most impactful project of my life.”

Sweeney noted that the film’s central themes — “survival, courage, and hope” — aligned with its campaigns supporting those affected by domestic violence. She added that if the story helped even one woman “take her first step toward safety,” the team would consider the film a success.

Further controversy emerged when actor Ruby Rose, who had been linked to a supporting role during the film’s development, criticised Sweeney, writing that she had “ruined the film” and claiming “Christy deserved better.”

Christy continues its theatrical run through distributor Black Bear.