Australian actor, 37, tweets allegations involving men in ‘positions of power’, and pledges to speak out against sexually aggressive behaviour

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Rebel Wilson is the latest star to come forward with allegations that she was sexually assaulted by powerful figures in the film industry.

The Pitch Perfect actor has claimed one “male star” who was in a “position of power” pushed her to go into a room alone with him.

In a series of tweets the 37-year-old alleged how the actor, who she didn’t name, demanded that she perform a sex act on him while his friends filmed the incident on their phones.

The actor told fans on the social media site: “As you guys know, I’m a pretty strong and confident person but even I have a story to tell. A male star, in a position of power asked me to go into a room with him and then asked me repeatedly to stick my finger up his ass.

“All whilst his male ‘friends’ tried to film the incident on their iPhones and laughed. I repeatedly said no and eventually got out of the room.”

Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) A male star, in a position of power asked me to go into a room with him and then asked me repeatedly to stick my finger up his ass. All whilst his male 'friends' tried to film the incident on their iPhones and laughed. I repeatedly said no and eventually got out of the room.

She wrote that after she managed to escape from the situation she worked with her lawyer and her agent to complain about the allegations to studio bosses and demanded producers include a clause in her contract protecting her from the star’s aggression.

But Wilson added that after taking steps to stop the alleged harassment she was threatened by her colleague’s representatives and told she had to “be nice” and “support” the actor.

She refused to bow to pressure and added: “I refused. The whole thing was disgusting. I’ve told hundreds of people in the industry the story in more graphic detail basically to warn them off this individual.”

Wilson also followers that she had a “hotel room encounter” with a top Hollywood director who she said was notorious for preying on young women.



She said she managed to escape when the man’s wife called and harangued him for sleeping with other women.

The Australian actor added: “Luckily she was yelling so loud that I could hear her and I bolted out of there immediately.

“I was so naive the thought of anything happening apart from ‘work talk’ didn’t even cross my mind.”

Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) Earlier in my career, I also had a 'hotel room' encounter with a top director. I thought we were there to talk comedy. Nothing physical happened because the guy's wife called and started abusing him over the phone for sleeping with actresses and luckily she was yelling so loud...

She wrote: “I feel lucky that I grew up in a pro-female environment, going to an all-girls high school, and that I have such a strong sense of self and have taken self-defence classes. I had the ability to escape both incidents. I realise not everyone is as lucky.

“To hear how prevalent sexual harassment and assault is, is just so saddening. I know my stories aren’t as horrific as other women and men have described – but if you’ve ever experienced anything like this I feel for you and can relate on some level.”

And she pledged that in future she would be not allow fears of being seen as impolite to hold her back from calling out sexually aggressive behaviour.

Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) I know, moving forward, that if I witness this behavior, whether it happens to me or someone I know, I will no longer be POLITE. Interpret that as you will.

Wilson is the latest of a growing number of actors to come forward with an account of the culture of sexual harassment at the heart of Hollywood.

The litany of revelations detailing abuses of power in the entertainment, political and artistic worlds was triggered by a New York Times report in October that accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting several women.

Dozens of women have since come forward with allegations against the film mogul.

Police forces in the UK and the United States are looking into the allegations of abuse by more than 50 women against the producer. Weinstein has “unequivocally denied” any allegations of non-consensual sex

House Of Cards actor Kevin Spacey is also facing investigation in the UK amid allegations of harassment and assault. Spacey responded to allegations that he made unwelcome sexual advances towards a 14-year-old actor, saying he did not remember the incident but if it did happen it was likely “deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour” for which he sincerely apologises.

On Friday, the BBC announced it had shelved plans to air the Agatha Christie drama Ordeal by Innocence after police in Los Angeles announced they were investigating a number of allegations against its star Ed Westwick.

In a statement posted on social media on Thursday, Westwick said claims against him were “unverified and “provably untrue”.