Rebel Wilson VS. Baron Cohen
Rebel Wilson has recently published her memoir book, Rebel Rising in the US however, potential printed falsehoods have delayed proceedings in the UK.
The UK version will have multiple blacked out pages and paragraphs which reference Sacha Baron Cohen, the English actor, writer, producer and comedian. The sections include Rebel Wilson expressing her lack of comfortability when working with Cohen on the set of The Brothers Grimsby in 2016. Wilson states that Cohen often made rude and demeaning comments to her which
The Guardian reports these extracts elude to the inappropriate behaviour of Cohen and how he persisted with the aspect of Wilson shooting nude scenes which she was against.
Rebel Wilson explains in the book that parts are blocked out “due to the peculiarities of the law in England and Wales”.
Cohen argues against false information
Cohen’s representatives have stated that the chapter of the book in question was clearly not fact check thoroughly and argue that Wilson uses this topic to increase book sales.
They say,
“Printing falsehoods is against the law in the UK and Australia; this is not a ‘peculiarity’ as Ms Wilson said, but a legal principle that has existed for many hundreds of years.”
If Wilson is found to be using this information maliciously and for book sales this could come under a claim for Malicious falsehood.
Malicious Falsehood claims in UK law
When one competitor is trying to make untrue statements about another’s goods or services stating names and information including calculated slander against them which could cause financial loss as stated by Pinsent Masons.
If the defendant intended to publish the statement with improper motives such as, attracting bad publicity for the competitor with knowledge that the claims were false.
Cohen and representative have argued that Wilson is aware that she is spreading false information and calls on proof from film footage and set tapes.