Rebel Wilson is addressing reports that she came out because she was going to be outed by a newspaper in Australia.
A few days ago, the Pitch Perfect and Senior Year star introduced her girlfriend to the world in a super sweet post on Instagram. Her reveal was perceived as a joyful celebration of love and a beautiful way also to celebrate pride month.
However, it’s since been revealed that what was supposed to be a pure, happy moment in the actress’ life was actually marred by the fact that she was going to be outed by a publication and was, in a sense, heartbreakingly forced to come out.
The Sydney Morning Herald published an op-ed article from a columnist of theirs named Andrew Hornery who dropped the bombshell that the paper had given Rebel a two-day deadline to comment on a story they would be publishing.
Instead of giving a statement to the publication, Rebel decided to reveal her relationship herself, on her own terms, on Instagram.
Andrew, who penned the op-ed, was seemingly annoyed that he did not get the “exclusive” on revealing Rebel’s relationship, and his reaction drew a huge amount of backlash.
Another journalist, Kate Doak, took to Twitter to share the op-ed, writing:
“So apparently it wasn’t @RebelWilson’s choice to come out… The @smh/@theage have admitted to giving her a heads up 2 days in advance that they were going to “out” her. What’s worse, openly gay men at the Sydney Morning Herald were involved in this.”
Rebel responded to Kate’s tweet, candidly stating:
Thanks for your comments, it was a very hard situation but trying to handle it with grace.”
The Herald editor Bevan Shields has come out with a statement declaring “outing” Rebel. Here’s what he said:
“Our weekly Private Sydney celebrity column last week asked Wilson if she wished to comment about her new partner. We would have asked the same questions had Wilson’s new partner been a man. To say that the Herald ‘outed’ Wilson is wrong.
Like other mastheads do every day, we simply asked questions and as standard practice included a deadline for a response. I had made no decision about whether or what to publish, and the Herald’s decision about what to do would have been informed by any response Wilson supplied.
We wish Wilson and Agruma well.”
