Claressa Shields stepped out of the boxing ring and into the Hollywood spotlight as the subject of the film, The Fire Inside.
Shields, 29, is a two-time Olympic gold medal-winning boxer.
She rose from challenging circumstances in Flint, Michigan, to sports history as the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
As the movie on her life builds awards buzz, it has suddenly become fodder for gossip outlets after Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma accused Shields of having an affair with her husband, rapper Papoose (born Shamele Mackie), of Love & Hip Hop: New York fame.
Related: ‘The Fire Inside’ First Look: Ryan Destiny Transforms Into Boxing Champion Claressa Shields
The Fire Inside debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, and received glowing reviews from critics.
“A lot of people were very entertained… so the reception was really warm,” Kathia Woods, a critic for the Philadelphia Tribune told Urban Hollywood 411 on Sunday.
Ryan Destiny (Star) leads the film’s cast as Shields and Oscar-nominated actor Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway) plays her inspiring coach.
Lately, instead of making headlines for strong storytelling or notable performances, the movie has been trending on social media for feuds and cheating accusations involving Remy Ma, Papoose, and Shields.
In one Instagram post, Papoose called his wife a “narcissist” and said she allegedly cheated “repeatedly” throughout their 16-year marriage. He deleted the post, but not before The Neighborhood Talk account reposted it on Dec. 12.
For her part, Remy Ma shared what she said were private text messages. One text purportedly between Shields and Papoose read: “My PR team gonna freak out when they see this. I can’t be up there exposing her, etc, before Dec. 25th the movie coming out.”
The Fire Inside is scheduled for release on Dec. 25.
Shields criticized Remy Ma, without naming her, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Dec. 12, writing: “I can’t believe a 45 year old woman is crashing out like this. (clown emoji) behavior.”
In a follow-up post, the boxer alleged the text messages the “All The Way Up” rapper shared were “fake,” and urged Remy Ma, who is actually 44, to “just stop it.”
The Fire Inside was written and produced by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins and directed by Black Panther cinematographer Rachel Morrison.
The social media feud comes just as the film builds awards buzz after picking up two Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations, and on Dec. 9, Ryan Destiny took home a rising star award at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Black Cinema & Television.
We were in the audience as the actress thanked Shields in her acceptance speech for being an “exceptional human being.”
“Her story needs to be told and heard and supported. I promise it will leave you with a true perspective of what it means to be a Black female athlete in a male-dominated sport,” the actress said.
Despite the squabbles involving Shields, Remy Ma and Papoose, film critic Kathia Woods predicts the drama will have little effect on the movie’s awards aspirations.
“Where the hoopla is happening is in the hip-hop world, and Hollywood doesn’t always pay attention to what’s going on over there in hip hop,” Woods said.
“The principal characters are not Hollywood people, they’re hip-hop people,” Woods added. “So unless you watch Love & Hip Hop, you’re really not tuned in. Hollywood is in its own little bubble, especially around awards season.”
The Fire Inside opens on Christmas day. The trailer is below:
