Aussie actress Rebel Wilson has revealed she was sacked by the famed DreamWorks studio after the publication of “malicious” articles about her in Bauer’s Woman’s Day and Women’s Weekly in May 2015.
Into day four of Wilson’s defamation case against Bauer in the Victorian Supreme Court, Wilson told the court she was deemed “to divisive” to appear in the Hollywood family films Kung Fu Panda 3 and Trolls following the publication of a series of articles that portrayed the 37-year-old as a serial liar.
A teary Wilson told the court she was “shocked and blindsided” by losing her role in Kung Fu Panda, a role she so “desperately” wanted. Wilson actually recorded her speaking part for the film’s character Mei Mei but was later called back by DreamWorks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg and told “unfortunately you’re just now too divisive to be in this movie, it’s a family movie”.
“I believe Mr Katzenberg was referring to the negative press – that’s the only thing I can think of,” she said.
Wilson’s part was later re-recorded by actress Kate Hudson despite Wilson appearing in early trailers for the film. Following that she said she lost her role in Trolls, too.
“After month after month that all of a sudden doors that used to be open were shut and I basically had to beg to get back in the door … it became apparent that … [the articles] did a tremendous amount of damage,” Wilson said.
Since the articles were published in mid 2015, Wilson has appeared for free in Absolutely Fabulous, had a stage role in the London production of Guys And Dolls and has completed Pitch Perfect 3. She told the court, with so little work, she’s now pitching her own ideas to Hollywood studios and offering to work pro bono.
“I have enough money, I have the courage to come and do it and this magazine company gets away with so much and not everyone has the strength to stand up for themselves,” Wilson said.
“They took those two years away from me doing what I love, which is entertaining people and making people laugh.
“They’re not going to end my career because I’m so hardworking … I know that I can get back on track and that I will,” she said.
Bauer has denied the articles were defamatory and has called them trivial. The case is expected to last three weeks and Wilson has said she will attend every day of the hearing.
