Rebel Wilson thanks her fans for how they responded to her claims about actor Sacha Baron Cohen.
On Thursday, the 44-year-old Australian actress shared a photo of herself on stage for a conversation promoting her new memoir, Rebel Rising.
The book presents one chapter. titled Sacha Baron Cohen and Other Morons, in which the Pitch Perfect actress makes claims about the 52-year-old Borat star’s behavior on the set of his 2016 film Grimsby. Baron Cohen has strongly denied her allegations.
“I want to thank everyone who reached out and acknowledged my experiences with Sacha Baron Cohen,” Wilson wrote in large text above her photo.
Despite his gratitude for public support, many readers will not see his claims in full, as the British version of the memoir was published with important sections of the chapter blacked out, while the version of the book published in Australia and New Zealand all the deleted chapter.
Rebel Wilson, 44, thanks her fans for how they responded to her claims about actor Sacha Baron Cohen, 52, in her memoir Rebel Rising; photographed in May 2023 in Cap d’Antibes, France
“I want to thank everyone who reached out and acknowledged my experiences with Sacha Baron Cohen,” Wilson wrote above a photo of her on stage to discuss her memoir.
The book has been partially censored in the United Kingdom, with sections on Baron Cohen blacked out, while the chapter has been completely censored in Australia. Baron Cohen has strongly denied his allegations; photographed in 2021 in Sydney
The censored British edition includes an accompanying note blaming the censorship on “the peculiarities of the law in England and Wales.”
The publisher, HarperCollins, confirmed to MailOnline: “The book contains some redaction in chapter 23 on pages 216, 217, 218 and 221, as well as an explanatory note at the beginning of the chapter.”
However, the American version of Wilson’s memoirs was published without modifications and appears to have the complete original text.
Wilson added in her Instagram Stories post: ‘Thank you for sharing your own stories with me. I’m very grateful and I really appreciate it.’
She concluded with a pink heart emoji, which perfectly matched her hot pink velvet sport coat.
The comic star also wore a sheer black top underneath, along with black leather pants and black suede boots with a modest platform sole.
After Wilson’s allegations were detailed on the US version of Rebel Rising, Baron Cohen’s spokesperson said: “While we appreciate the importance of speaking openly, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive and detailed evidence…Including contemporary documents, film footage and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby.
The UK version includes a reference to “the worst experience of my professional life”. An incident which left me feeling intimidated, humiliated and compromised…’ before the note appears, which reads: ‘Cannot be printed here due to peculiarities of the law in England and Wales.’
The rest of the page is redacted, with black lines also removing shorter details later in the chapter.
Following the news that the chapter would be censored in Australia and New Zealand, a spokesperson for Baron Cohen said the decision was a “clear victory” for him: “Harper Collins did not verify this chapter of the book before publication. “I took the decision. sensible but late step to remove Wilson’s defamatory statements,” they said.
Wilson’s memoirs have been published in the United Kingdom without redactions and present his original claims.
Wilson added in her Instagram Stories post: ‘Thank you for sharing your own stories with me. I am very grateful to you and I really appreciate it’; photographed in February in Brisbane, Australia
The censored British edition includes an accompanying note blaming the censorship on “the peculiarities of the law in England and Wales”; Baron Cohen seen in 2016 in New York
In the UK book, Rebel says she “regrets the day” she met actor Ali G, whom she describes as her former “idol”; Wilson and Baron Cohen in a scene from The Brothers Grimsby
‘Printing falsehoods is illegal in the UK and Australia; This is not a “quirk” as Ms. Wilson said but a legal principle that has existed for hundreds of years. “This is a clear victory for Sacha Baron Cohen.”
The Bridesmaids star has said her goal was not to cancel Baron Cohen with her memories in the memoir, but to retell an experience that made her feel “completely disrespected, which led me to treat myself even more disrespectfully.” respect by eating in an extremely unhealthy way. .’
In the UK book, Rebel says she “regrets the day” she met actor Ali G, whom she describes as her former “idol.”
She describes how they met at a dinner hosted by Little Britain star Matt Lucas, and then Baron Cohen offered her a role in The Brothers Grimsby.
Wilson played Dawn, the wife of Baron Cohen’s character Nobby, a football fan who finds himself drawn into the world of his secret agent brother.
Last month, he first named Baron Cohen as the celebrity responsible for making threats about the book, after which his representatives responded.
Taking to Instagram to confirm the identity, Wilson wrote: “I will not be silenced by expensive lawyers or PR crisis managers.” The idiot I talk about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is: Sacha Baron Cohen.
In addition to her shocking comments about the “disgusting” Grimsby sex scene, in an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly at the time, the Pitch Perfect star also criticized the film for making her character Dawn wear a burqa in one scene.
She insisted at the time that all the scenes were in the name of comedy: ‘Obviously, I don’t mean to offend Muslims. I asked my Muslim friend, “Do you think it’s okay to tell the joke we’re telling?” And she said yes.
Wilson added: “But she’s pretty liberal and lives in New York, so who knows?” But it’s a joke and I don’t mean to offend.
Rebel’s post came just two days after she alleged that a celebrity she once worked with was threatening her over the publication of the memoir.
Last month, he first named Baron Cohen as the celebrity responsible for making threats about the book, after which his representatives responded.
Following his statement, Sacha spoke to TMZ through representatives and said: ‘While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive and detailed evidence…’; seen in 2020 in Los Angeles
She detailed: ‘I wrote about a jerk in my book. Now, he said a ****** is trying to threaten me. He has hired a crisis public relations manager and lawyers. He’s trying to stop the press from talking about my book. But the book will come out and you will all know.’
In an Instagram video shared on March 15, Wilson revealed that she has dedicated a chapter of her book to the ‘huge jerk’ she worked with in Hollywood.
Rebel will discuss her book on a UK tour later this month, with appearances in Edinburgh, Manchester and London, including a chat with broadcaster Fearne Cotton at the London Palladium on April 29.
Representatives for Baron Cohen and publisher Harper Collins have been contacted for comment.
