Your Route to Real News

Rebel Wilson shares Sacha Baron Cohen regret after he fat-shamed her on set

02 June 2024 , 11:33
1198     0
Rebel Wilson wishes she had left after Sacha Baron Cohen
Rebel Wilson wishes she had left after Sacha Baron Cohen 'degraded' her on set (Image: Variety via Getty Images)

Rebel Wilson wishes she had been 'strong enough' to leave the set after she was 'fat-shamed' while filming with Sacha Baron Cohen.

The 44-year-old Australian native recently revealed in her new memoir that she had a bad experience while on the set of the comedian's film Grimsby. Claims made in her book have caused controversy, after she told how she found Baron Cohen's behaviour "disgusting", saying he "crossed the line".

Speaking on Lauren Laverne's Radio 4 show, Desert Island Discs, Rebel told the presenter: "That was the worst professional experience and that was where it crossed the line. It wasn't comedy. It just crossed the line into an experience where I did feel humiliated and degraded for being an overweight woman."

Rebel Wilson shares Sacha Baron Cohen regret after he fat-shamed her on set eidekiqtiqrtprwRebel Wilson has spoken out about her alleged experiences with Sacha Baron Cohen (Getty Images)
Rebel Wilson shares Sacha Baron Cohen regret after he fat-shamed her on setThe Ali G and Borat star has strongly refuted all the claims made against him (Getty Images for Netflix)

Baron Cohen's 2016 film Grimsby saw Rebel play his partner, Dawn Grobham, mother of his character Kyle Alan 'Nobby' Butcher's 11 children. In her memoir, Rebel Rising, actress Wilson accused the Borat creator of putting pressure on her to do a sex scene and making her wear clothes that show her in an unflattering light.

Wilson told Laverne: "Even though at the time I reported it, nothing really happened. I stayed in a situation and had things said to me and stuff that I should have left. The me now would be strong enough, but back then I just didn't have enough self-esteem to leave and I thought I'd be labelled as unprofessional if I left."

I taught the Queen Mother to do an impression of TV's Ali G, says HarryI taught the Queen Mother to do an impression of TV's Ali G, says Harry

Making no specific allegations, Wilson added that she doesn't regret telling her story, saying: "I guess it's a final release of the emotions of it, and if it can help a few people out there then it's worth it."

The allegations came to light when Wilson claims Baron Cohen's legal team were 'threatening' her with legal action. Writing on Instagram on 15 March, Wilson said: "When I first came to Hollywood, people were like, yeah, ‘I have a no a**hole policy, means like, yeah, I don’t work with a**holes.’ I was like, ‘Oh yeah. I mean, that sounds sensible or logical. But then it really sunk in because I worked with a massive a**hole and yeah, now I definitely have a no a**holes policy."

In another post shared on social media, Wilson alleged: "Now the a**hole is trying to threaten me. He’s hired a crisis PR manager and lawyers. He’s trying to stop press coming out about my new book. But the book WILL come out and you will all know the truth."

Taking to her Instagram Stories on (25 March), Wilson shared a picture of a notebook and pen and wrote over the image: "I will not be bullied or silenced by high-priced lawyers or PR crisis managers. The 'asshole' that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is: Sacha Baron Cohen."

After Wilson named Baron Cohen on social media, a spokesperson for the comedian and actor told the Mirror: "While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby."

Amelia Ward

Print page

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus