Sacha Baron Cohen has broken his silence after Rebel Wilson claimed he is the ‘a**hole’ she refers to in her explosive new memoir.
On Monday, Sacha’s rep shared a statement with TMZ, writing: ‘While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence.
‘Including contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby.’
Earlier that day, Rebel, 44, had claimed the British actor and comedian was the celebrity responsible for making threats over her no-holds-barred memoir, Rebel Rising.
The n actress originally claimed she was facing potential legal action after dedicating an entire chapter to a difficult working experience with an unnamed former co-star – branded an ‘a**hole’ by Wilson.
Sacha Baron Cohen broke his silence on Monday after Rebel Wilson claimed he is the ‘a**hole’ she refers to in her explosive new memoir
Rebel has named the British actor and comedian Sacha as the celebrity responsible for making threats over her no-holds-barred memoir, Rebel Rising
The post came two days after the Pitch Perfect star alleged that a celebrity she had worked with was threatening her over the release of the memoir
She has since confirmed the actor in question is Cohen, 52 – best known for his comedy creations Ali G and Borat – with whom she starred in 2016 action-comedy Grimsby.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday, she wrote: ‘I will not be silenced by high priced lawyers or PR crisis managers. The a****** I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is: Sacha Baron Cohen.’
The post came just two days after the Pitch Perfect star alleged that a celebrity she once worked with was threatening her over the release of the memoir.
‘I wrote about an a**hole in my book,’ she told Instagram followers. ‘Now, said a****** is trying to threaten me. He’s hired a crisis PR manager and lawyers.
‘He is trying to stop press coming out about my book. But the book WILL come out and you will all know the truth.’
In an Instagram video shared on March 15, Wilson revealed that she has dedicated a chapter in her book to the ‘massive a**hole’ she worked with in Hollywood.
The Pitch Perfect star also claimed she would eventually name the male colleague, whose alleged behaviour prompted her to adopt a ‘no a**holes policy’ on set.
She wrote: ‘When I first came to Hollywood, people were like, “Yeah, I have a no-a**holes policy that means, like, I don’t work with a**holes.” I was like, “Yeah, I mean, that sounds sensible and logical.”
‘But then it really sunk in what they were meaning by that, older people in the industry. Because I worked with a massive a**hole, and, yeah, now I definitely have a no-a**holes policy.
‘Chapter one said a**hole — it is chapter 23, that guy was a massive a**hole.’
She added: ‘Do you want to know who is the biggest a**hole I’ve ever worked with in Hollywood? Chapter 23 lists it all out! Do you wanna know why I have a ‘no a**holes’ policy now with people I work with?
‘I wrote about an a**hole in my book. Now, said a****** is trying to threaten me. He’s hired a crisis PR manager and lawyers.
In an Instagram video shared on March 15 , Wilson revealed that she has dedicated a whole chapter in her book to the ‘massive a**hole’ she worked with in Hollywood
Over a picture of a writing pad and pen, the comedian said that she ‘wrote about an a**hole’ in her book and ‘now they are trying to threaten me’
Wilson and Baron Cohen starred together in the comedy flop Grimsby, released in 2016
‘Well it’s all in the book: REBEL RISING available for pre-order now (drops April 2nd, link in bio)… oh and YES I name the a**hole!’
Wilson and Cohen starred together in Grimsby alongside Mark Strong, Gabourey Sidibe and Isla Fisher – Cohen’s wife of 14-years.
Cohen portrays reformed football hooligan Norman ‘Nobby’ Grimsby who is forced to go on the run with his brother – a suave secret agent played by Kingsman star Strong.
Wilson plays his on-screen love interest Dawn while Cohen’s real-life love and fellow n actress Fisher plays Jodie Figgs.
The film was lambasted by critics, and it currently holds a 34 percent rotten rating from the most prestigious reviewers surveyed by Rotten Tomatoes.
Wilson and Cohen’s wife Isla Fisher previously co-starred in the 2012 film Bachelorette
The two actresses are pictured together at the film’s Los Angeles premiere in August 2012
In Grimsby Wilson plays Cohen’s on-screen love interest Dawn (pictured), while the actor’s real-life love and fellow n actress Fisher plays Jodie Figgs
Cohen, dressed in character, and wife Fisher attend the Grimsby world premiere in 2016
It was also a disappointment at the box office, as it only made around $28 million against a budget of $35 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
Speaking in 2016, Cohen opened up about casting Wilson as his love interest in the comedy, instead of wife and co-star Fisher.
While appearing on Network 10’s The Project, he joked that his decision to cast the funny woman was simply because ‘there’s problems at home’.
He added: ‘The studio are putting a lot of pressure on Rebel to have the child to coincide with the release of the movie.
‘I think it is unfair because she is only five months in.’
Cohen went on to add that he and Wilson were currently working on a solution, saying: ‘To end this dilemma she has to decide whether to have this [baby] premmie [premature] and make the studio happy or leave it in there until full term.’
Speaking to news.com.au in 2015 Wilson previously described filming sex scenes with Cohen as ‘disgusting’.
‘I had a sex scene with Sacha Baron Cohen and it was just the most disgusting thing ever,’ she told the publication while attending LA Fashion Week.
In an interview with The n Women’s Weekly, the Pitch Perfect star revealed her character Dawn would don a burqa in one scene.
However the Sydney local insisted it’s all in the name of comedy and she doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers.
‘Obviously, I don’t mean any offence to Muslims. I asked my Muslim friend “Do you think this is alright, to tell the joke we’re telling?” And she said yeah,’ Rebel told the publication.
‘But she’s pretty liberal and lives in New York so who knows? But it is a joke and no offence meant,’ she added.
DailyMail.com has contacted Cohen’s representatives for further comment.