Rebel Wilson names Hollywood star trying to stop her from releasing new memoir

The actor Rebel Wilson has named the Hollywood star trying to prevent her from releasing a tell-all memoir, aptly called Rebel Rising, as Sacha Baron Cohen.

According to the Australian actor, Cohen has been sending Wilson threats to try to stop the publication of the book, which describes her experience of previously teaming up with him for a film in 2016.

Prior to now, Wilson had stopped short of naming Cohen as the Hollywood figure with hopes of putting the book on ice, but now the Bridesmaids actor has identified the Borat and Bruno creator. It comes after she had previously described the British comedian as a “massive asshole”.

Wilson claims Cohen, while in a state of crisis, hired a PR team in a state of crisis when he caught wind of her plans to release the memoir. She alleges that the team then started sending warnings to her, in an attempt to prevent the details of Wilson’s experience of Cohen’s behind-the-scenes behaviour coming to light.

In a story on Instagram, Wilson wrote (via Variety), “I will not be bullied or silenced with high priced lawyer or PR crisis managers. The asshole that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sasha Baron Cohen.”

Previously, Wilson had written of an anonymous industry figure, “Now the asshole 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.”

As of yet, Cohen has refused to comment on Wilson’s claims. The pair starred together in Cohen’s 2016 comedy movie The Brothers Grimsby.

Wilson had written on Instagram back on March 15th, “When I first came to Hollywood, people were like, yeah, ‘I have a no asshole policy, means like, yeah, I don’t work with assholes.’ I was like, ‘Oh yeah. I mean, that sounds sensible or logical. But then it really sunk in because I worked with a massive asshole and yeah, now I definitely have a no assholes policy.”

Wilson moved to the United States from her native Australia after the success of her musical comedy series Bogan Pride, leading to celebrated performances in Bridesmaids, A Few Best Men, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Struck by Lightning and Bachelorette.

Her status in Hollywood was confirmed by her efforts in Pitch Perfect and JoJo Rabbit. Cohen, meanwhile, is best known for creating the characters Ali G, Borat and Bruno, who have each appeared in a series of movies and television programmes.

Cohen is yet to comment on Wilson’s accusations.

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