She may only be playing a boxer in a movie, but don’t go thinking you can mess with Sydney Sweeney. After getting massively body-shamed online, the Euphoria star punched back at trolls in the most clear and succinct way.
Sweeney is portraying trailblazing queer boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming (though still untitled) biopic. After rising to become one of the most famed boxers of the 90s, Martin’s career secured her legacy within a number of groundbreaking firsts. She became the first woman on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1996, the first woman elected to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016, and among the first women elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame when women were first put on the ballot in 2020.
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To portray the icon as accurately as possible, Sweeney endured months of intensive training, putting on weight and muscle. In October, she shared photos showing off her new boxer physique. “Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman — a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring,” she wrote at the time.
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“Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon.”
Many fans were absolutely panting for the muscle mommy look. But because the internet is hell, there was no shortage of trolls making abhorrent comments about Sweeney’s body transformation.
Sweeney responded to months’ worth of negative reactions through a simple Instagram post on Saturday. The video begins by cycling through a series of posts making incredibly disparaging remarks about her body.
The second half of the video is a complete vibe shift. Through a fast paced montage, Sweeney is seen sparring in a pair of boxing gloves, persevering through grueling workouts, showing off her guns, and even lifting a giant tire. The video ends with Christy Martin’s name, emblazoned in pink glitter.
This time around, the internet was completely on her side. “I bet most of these comments are from men who know very well they would never ever have a chance with you lol,” one person commented.
“You’re on the big screen,” said another, “and they are sitting on their couches probably jobless and in their mom’s basement.”
The untitled Christy Martin biopic, directed by David Michôd (The King), is still in the production process and no release window has yet been announced.
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