Sydney Sweeney. Photo:
WireImage
Sydney Sweeney is clapping back at her body shamers.
On Friday, Dec. 13, the Euphoria actress, 27, posted a video to Instagram that featured dozens of screenshots of comments about her body.
“Quite frumpy isn’t she,” read one comment. “Nothing to see here other than an average chunky Yankee girl,” another read. Many of the comments seem to be taken from a Daily Mail article that showcased photos of Sweeney enjoying the sun while in a bikini at her Florida Keys home.
The montage of comments then cuts to footage of the Anyone But You star working out as she intensely trains for her role as Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic about the boxer.
Her fitness footage includes shots of her flipping giant tires, lifting weight, boxing and flexing her muscular biceps.
“Well, the cat’s out of the bag thanks to some paps in bushes so here’s a little BTS from my film I’m working on right now,” Sweeney wrote in an Instagram post on Oct. 16. “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.”
“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,” the Emmy-nominated actress — who “grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old,” according to Deadline — continued.
Christy Martin, 56, rose to fame in the ’90s, becoming one of America’s most successful female boxers. She became the first woman inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016 and also the first woman inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020. She became the first female boxer to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1996, with Ronda Rousey becoming the second and most recent in 2015.
Martin, who retired from professional boxing in 2012, survived an attempted murder in 2010 when her husband, James V. Martin, stabbed her several times and left her for dead. He was later sentenced to 25 years in prison. In 2017, she married one of her former boxing rivals, Lisa Holewyne.
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On Nov. 25, Sweeney announced that she had “wrapped filming Christy Martin’s story,” which is currently untitled. “It has been one of the most emotional, transformative experiences of my life. Christy’s journey is so deeply inspiring and having her by my side during this process was nothing short of surreal.
Sydney Sweeney. Getty Images for GLAAD
“There were moments on set where I’d glance over at her standing by the monitors, cheering us on, and I’d just become so emotional,” she continued. “Knowing what she’s endured, what she’s pushed through to be there in that moment—it made me want to cry.”
“This story is so much bigger than just a film. It’s a testament to resilience, survival and finding the strength to keep fighting,” the Instagram caption read.
Directed by David Michôd, the film stars Sweeney, Ben Foster (who will portray Martin’s husband, James), Merritt Weaver, Ethan Embry and Katy O’Brien.
