Christy Martin Stands by Sydney Sweeney After “Christy” Box Office Disappointment: “She is my friend and ally!”

Sydney Sweeney has received a public show of support from Christy Martin after the biopic “Christy” struggled at the box office.

The film, which tells the story of Martin’s rise as a professional boxer and the attempted murder by her coach-turned-husband in 2010, opened to $1.3 million in the United States, making it one of the worst openings for a film released on over 2,000 screens, according to Box Office Mojo.

Despite the film’s performance, Martin praised Sweeney for her dedication in a heartfelt Instagram post. “I’ve always been a fighter. My life reflected that in every way and now I fight for others. The past few days I have seen some people attack my friend Sydney Sweeney. Syd not only worked her a** off for this film, she worked her a** 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!”

Sweeney herself expressed pride in the project, emphasizing the impact the film could have beyond numbers. “Proud of the film David made. Proud of the story we told. Proud to represent someone as strong and resilient as Christy Martin,” she said.

“This experience has been one of the greatest honors 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 added, “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.”

The film, directed by David Michôd and written by Michôd and Mirrah Foulkes, also stars Ben Foster, Merritt Weaver, Katy O’Brian, Ethan Embry, and Chad L. Coleman. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, in the Special Presentations section and received mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising Sweeney’s performance.

Even as some critics and viewers, including former Batwoman actress Ruby Rose, voiced frustration about the project, Sweeney’s dedication and Martin’s support highlight the personal and social importance of the story.

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