Fans of Rebel Wilson were left shocked and confused when copies of her memoir “Rebel Rising” hit shelves in the United Kingdom with significant portions of the book redacted. The removed content contained allegations made by Wilson about fellow comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s behavior on the set of a movie they worked on together almost a decade ago. The move to censor the book comes after Baron Cohen vehemently denied the claims, calling them “demonstrably false.”
The redacted version of “Rebel Rising” was released in the United Kingdom on Thursday, and will also be published without the controversial chapter in Australia and New Zealand on May 8. In the United States, the book had been released in its entirety the month before, including Wilson’s story about feeling uncomfortable on the set of “The Brothers Grimsby,” where Baron Cohen allegedly made inappropriate requests for a comedic bit.
After a book event in Edinburgh, Wilson took to Instagram to thank those who had supported her and acknowledged her experiences with Sacha Baron Cohen. Her attorney, Bryan Freedman, issued a statement expressing gratitude to other women who had shared their experiences with Cohen and commending their strength and bravery in coming forward. Wilson had previously teased the release of her book by revealing that she had a “no a—holes” policy when it comes to working with people and hinted at naming the individual in her book.
The controversy surrounding Wilson’s memoir began when she posted on Instagram accusing a then-unnamed person of trying to prevent the publication of her book and threatening her. In response, a spokesperson for Cohen, who chose to remain unidentified, refuted the claims and insisted that there was evidence, including film footage, eyewitness accounts, and documents, to discredit Wilson’s allegations. The situation escalated when the redacted versions of the book were released, leaving fans and readers puzzled about the validity of the claims and the motivations behind the censorship.
As the story continues to unfold, with differing accounts from Wilson and Baron Cohen, fans are left wondering about the truth behind the allegations and the reasons for redacting portions of the book. The controversy has sparked debate online, with some questioning the transparency and integrity of the memoir, while others stand by Wilson and support her decision to speak out about her experiences. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear – this clash between two Hollywood personalities has captivated audiences and reignited discussions about workplace harassment and accountability in the entertainment industry.
