Rebel Wilson ‘given two days’ by Australian news outlet that threatened to out her… then published an article admitting it

Australian publication Sydney Morning Herald admitted to giving Rebel Wilson ‘two days’ to comment on her new relationship before taking it into their own hands.

Despite the year being 2022, it would seem that ‘outing‘ someone is still very much a thing and Rebel Wilson coming out, sadly and in more ways than one, has been an example of how fu*ked up many attitudes still are. 

 

Pitch Perfect actress Rebel Wilson, 42, announced via social media on June 9 that she was dating fashion designer Ramona Agruma.

In a sweet post, the Australian actress shared, “I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince… but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess 💗🌈💗#loveislove

Rebel Wilson introducing her girlfriend to the world

The couple were immediately met with both praise and congratulations from followers, but what followed was a little less celebratory and far more uncomfortable to observe.

 

First of all, Rebel Wilson or anyone announcing a same-sex relationship, at any time but perhaps especially during Pride Month, should not be a divisive talking point. 

 

And yet, the response from many was to question her sexual orientation or speculate over her relationship history. Rather than simply celebrating her public acknowledgment that love is, indeed, love.

One could argue that such public deliberation is simply a by-product of a social media society, however details later revealed present far less trivial issues and people, rightly, are not happy about it.

 

In an opinion piece that followed Wilson’s coming out, columnist Andrew Hornery revealed the newspaper had been planning to tell the world about her relationship before she was able – or perhaps even ready – to herself.

And details of the ultimatum weren’t uncovered or exposed in any way, it was published and shared by the publication in question. 

 

Hornery wrote: ‘It was an abundance of caution and respect that this media outlet emailed Rebel Wilson’s representatives on Thursday morning, giving her two days to comment on her new relationship with another woman, LA leisure wear designer Ramona Agruma, before publishing a single word.”

‘Big mistake”, he continues. “Wilson opted to gazump the story, posting about her new “Disney Princess” on Instagram early Friday morning, the same platform she had previously used to brag about her handsome ex-boyfriend, wealthy American beer baron Jacob Busch.”

Many online commented that the opinion piece reads like its intention was, basically, a ‘takedown’ of Wilson, but it clearly didn’t have the impact intended because social media users were furious.

 

Journalist Chris Scullion tweeted: “Fu*king shameful by the Sydney Morning Herald. Acting like they were being generous by giving Rebel Wilson a two-day deadline to come out before outing her themselves, then getting arsey because she called their bluff against her will.”

“Never has @SMH been a more accurate username.”

One other person tweeted: ‘When I saw “the Sydney Morning Herald threatened to out Rebel Wilson and then complained that she scooped them” I thought someone had leaked an email or something.

‘It never occurred to me that they would publish this narrative of the events in print and expect it go to well.’

‘”Abundance of caution and respect” but basically the Sydney Morning Herald told Rebel Wilson we’ll out you in 2 days if you don’t give us a statement…and then publishes this because she came out herself. I am shocked but not surprised…,’ another added.

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