The British publisher of actress Rebel Wilson’s memoir has made headlines by redacting a portion of the book that details allegations of inappropriate behavior by Sacha Baron Cohen. The memoir, titled “Rebel Rising,” delves into Wilson’s personal struggles with weight loss, sexuality, and money, but it was her account of interactions with Baron Cohen on the set of the 2016 movie “The Brothers Grimsby” that has sparked controversy.
In the book, Wilson claims that Baron Cohen asked her to appear nude on film and perform sexual acts for a scene, allegations that have been denied by a representative for Baron Cohen. The book was released in the United States by Simon & Schuster and is set to be released in the United Kingdom and Australia. However, Harper Collins, the UK publisher, has redacted passages from the memoir for legal reasons.
Wilson recounts feeling uncomfortable during the filming of “The Brothers Grimsby” and alleges that Baron Cohen made inappropriate requests, which he denies. The publisher’s decision to redact the controversial passages has drawn both criticism and praise, with a spokesperson for Baron Cohen commending the move as a way to avoid printing falsehoods.
The ongoing dispute between Wilson and Baron Cohen has captured the attention of the public, with Wilson asserting her right to share her story in her memoir. The controversy surrounding the redacted passages has raised questions about the responsibility of publishers to fact-check and the boundaries of freedom of speech in memoir writing.
