Rebel Wilson, known for her role in the 2016 film “The Brothers Grimsby” (called “Grimsby” in the UK), has stirred up controversy by accusing her former co-star Sacha Baron Cohen of trying to block her memoir, “Rebel Rising.”
In an earlier Instagram post, Wilson, an Australian actor known for films like Jojo Rabbit and Pitch Perfect, claimed that an unnamed Hollywood actor had engaged “a crisis PR manager and lawyers” to “threaten” her over a chapter in her upcoming memoir, Rebel Rising. The book is scheduled to hit stands on April 2.
In a bold Instagram post, Wilson refused to back down, stating “I will not be bullied or silenced with high priced lawyer or PR crisis managers. The ‘a**hole’ that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sacha Baron Cohen.”
She specifically called out Baron Cohen as the “massive asshole” she discusses in her book.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s representatives vehemently denied Wilson’s claims, citing extensive evidence contradicting her accusations.
Wilson had previously hinted at the turmoil, mentioning encounters with a “massive asshole” during her early days in Hollywood. She expressed determination to share her truth despite attempts to silence her.
During the filming of “Grimsby,” Wilson has spoken out about uncomfortable experiences, including pressure to strip naked on set. She recounted how Baron Cohen persisted with the idea, even hiring a body double when she refused.
In one shocking revelation, Wilson claimed Baron Cohen asked her to perform an unexpected action in a scene, insisting it would be funny. Eventually, they compromised, but the incident left a lasting impression on Wilson.
“Grimsby,” which also starred Isla Fisher and Mark Strong, faced criticism, marking a low point in Baron Cohen’s career. Despite the setback, Baron Cohen reflected positively on the experience, finding liberation in the aftermath of the film’s failure.
In prior interviews, Wilson had expressed displeasure about her experience of working with Cohen, telling an Australian radio show that Cohen asked her to do a nude scene in Grimsby.
“Sacha is so outrageous…. Every single day he’s like, ‘Rebel, can you just go naked in this scene?’ And I’m like, ‘No!’ Sacha and I have the same agent in America and I’m like, ‘Sacha, I’m going to call our agent Sharon and tell her how much you are harassing me,” Wilson was quoted as saying.
Baron Cohen is yet to respond to Wilson’s accusations.