Harassment on set

Sacha Baron Cohen rejects allegations from Wilson

Rebel Wilson and Sacha Baron Cohen in "The Spy and His Brother".(Bild: ©Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection / picturedesk.com)

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (52) has denied allegations of sexual harassment made by Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson ("Pitch Perfect"). The 44-year-old Australian's accusations are "demonstrably false", a representative for Baron Cohen told the British news agency PA.

In her recently published memoir about the filming of the movie "The Spy and His Brother" (2016, original: The Brothers Grimsby), Wilson wrote that "it felt like Sacha Baron Cohen sexually harassed me".

Inappropriate behavior on set
There had been several incidents of inappropriate behavior where she had felt disrespected. She also described a situation in which he allegedly asked her to touch him intimately. Wilson played the girlfriend of the main character played by Baron Cohen in the movie.

In the end, a body double was used to complete the film.(Bild: ©Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection / picturedesk.com)

According to Rebel Wilson, the actor is said to have behaved inappropriately on the film set of "The Spy and His Brother".(Bild: ©Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection / picturedesk.com)

Back in 2016, Rebel made no secret of the fact that there had been disagreements with her co-star on set. "Every day he asks: 'Rebel, can you just take your clothes off in this scene?' And I say: 'No!' Sacha and I had the same agent in America and I said: 'Sacha, I'm going to call our agent Sharon and tell her how much you're bothering me,'" she once explained in a radio interview.

In the end, a body double was used, but Cohen was clearly not satisfied. "Then, in the last scene, he said: 'Rebel, can you stick your finger up my butt? And I said: 'What do you mean, Sacha? It's not in the script. And he said: 'Look, I'll just pull my pants down, you just stick your finger up my butt, it'll be a really funny part."

Wilson refused to promote the movie
Because of the ongoing harassment, she refused to promote the film, which also stars Baron Cohen's wife Isla Fisher as well as Mark Strong and Penélope Cruz, Wilson wrote. She had mentioned the incident on Twitter in November 2017 during the MeToo debate, but did not name any names at the time.

Allegations are "demonstrably false"
Baron Cohen's representative emphasized that the actor believes it is important for those affected to speak out publicly. However, "these demonstrably false allegations are directly refuted by extensive detailed evidence, including documents from the time, film footage and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of 'The Spy and His Brother'".