THE MAN AT THE centre of the upcoming film Foxcatcher has said the film has “jeopardised his legacy” by implying there was a sexual relationship between him and his wrestling coach.

The film tells the true story of Mark Schultz and his brother Dave (played by Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo), two Olympic-grade wrestlers who were sponsored by eccentric multimillionaire John duPont (Steve Carell).

Last week, Schultz went on an all-caps Twitter tirade against the movie and its director, Bennett Miller.

In tweets later deleted but cached by Buzzfeed, he writes:

YOU THINK I’M GOING TO SIT BACK AND WATCH YOU DESTROY MY NAME AND REPUTATION I SWEAT BLOOD FOR. YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET DUDE. Everything I’ve ever said positive about the movie I take back. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.

Schultz has previously been supportive of the film, even attending the world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival with director Miller and the film’s stars.

Schultz, second from right, with the film's stars at Cannes Alastair Grant / PA Wire Alastair Grant / PA Wire / PA Wire

In a Facebook post, Schultz went on to list what he perceived to be factual errors in the film – specifically, a scene that implies that Schultz and his former coach duPont may have had a sexual relationship:

Leaving the audience with a feeling that somehow there could have been a sexual relationship between duPont and I is a sickening and insulting lie.

On Thursday, Schultz apologised “for the harshness of my language” but defended his position on the film.

My story and my life are real. I am a real human being. While I may have tweeted out of anger, I in no way regret standing up for myself… I apologise for the harshness of my language, but I am firm in where I stand.

Despite this, he later posted a message of support for the film’s stars, saying the actors “HAVE TO WIN”.

Foxcatcher is released in Ireland on January 9.

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