Amidst the controversy surrounding Rebel Wilson’s memoir, ‘Rebel Rising,’ Sacha Baron Cohen has emerged victorious as a defamatory chapter about him has been largely redacted. The redaction comes after Baron Cohen’s attorneys threatened legal action against Harper Collins, the publisher of the book, over allegations made by Wilson that they deemed provably false.
In the lead-up to the UK release of the memoir, Wilson had publicly accused Baron Cohen of mistreating her on the set of their 2016 film, ‘The Brothers Grimsby.’ Wilson’s claims, which included allegations of humiliation and degradation, sparked a public outcry and prompted an immediate response from Baron Cohen’s camp.
Baron Cohen’s attorneys vigorously denied the allegations, presenting evidence that directly contradicted Wilson’s claims. They argued that printing falsehoods was against the law in both the UK and Australia, and that Harper Collins had failed to fact-check the chapter prior to publication.
Faced with the threat of legal action, Harper Collins made the prudent decision to redact the defamatory chapter from the UK edition of the book. A spokesperson for Baron Cohen hailed the redaction as a clear victory, confirming that the allegations against him were demonstrably false and intended to boost book sales.
Baron Cohen’s camp has consistently maintained the falsity of Wilson’s claims, citing extensive evidence to support their position. Despite Wilson’s continued public comments, the redaction of the chapter has effectively silenced the most damaging allegations made against Baron Cohen.
While the controversy surrounding Wilson’s memoir has undoubtedly generated buzz and likely boosted sales, the redaction of the chapter about Baron Cohen serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of publishing defamatory statements. It also highlights the importance of fact-checking and verifying information before publication, particularly in the context of high-profile allegations.
