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Rebel Wilson Being Pushed to Come Out Sparks Ire on Social Media

Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Netflix

The Sydney Morning Herald is getting pushback for its handling of the story.

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An Australian newspaper is reporting that Rebel Wilson came out because it gave her a heads-up that it was publishing a piece on her relationship with fashion designer Ramona Agruma -- and the paper's editors are upset because she came out on social media instead of giving them the story.

"It was with 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 LA leisure wear designer Ramona Agruma, before publishing a single word," The Sydney Morning Herald reported Saturday.

But "Wilson opted to gazump the story, posting about her new 'Disney Princess' on Instagram early Friday morning," the paper continued, adding, "Considering how bitterly Wilson had complained about poor journalism standards when she successfully sued Woman's Day for defamation, her choice to ignore our discreet, genuine and honest queries was, in our view, underwhelming."

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The Herald is getting plenty of pushback, especially on social media.

\u201cSo apparently it wasn't @RebelWilson's choice to come out... The @smh/@theage have admitted to giving her a heads up 2 days in advance that they were going to "out" her. What's worse, openly gay men at the Sydney Morning Herald were involved in this. \ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2640\ufe0f https://t.co/Zl80zg01SW\u201d
— Kate Doak (@Kate Doak) 1654918889

\u201ci am so beyond disgusted at this. turns out rebel wilson only came out to avoid being forcefully outed and now that newspaper is pissed at her for ruining their scoop?? so they wrote this mess?? i am so angry and so sorry for rebel, no one deserves this.\u201d
— theresa isn't here \ud83c\udf08 (@theresa isn't here \ud83c\udf08) 1654950111

\u201cthe way they write about her previously dating men too as if a woman can't be queer and also date men is so gross and biphobic\u201d
— theresa isn't here \ud83c\udf08 (@theresa isn't here \ud83c\udf08) 1654950111

\u201cI\u2019ve just read this @smh piece 3 times to make sure that I wasn\u2019t misreading. The publication messaged Rebel Wilson saying they would out her in 2 days - and is now complaining that she chose to announce her relationship with a woman herself. Quite astonishing.\u201d
— Megha Mohan (@Megha Mohan) 1654949849

\u201cIn case you were wondering how Pride Month is going, the @smh got in touch with Rebel Wilson to say they\u2019d be outing her in the next few days, so when Rebel came out herself the journalists are throwing a tantrum that she robbed them of an exclusive.\u201d
— Dr. Bodie A. Ashton (@Dr. Bodie A. Ashton) 1654931581

\u201cForced outing is violence that continues to have dangerous and sometimes fatal consequences; that mightn\u2019t be a concern for Wilson, but it is certainly journalistic malpractice. If the editorial team at the @smh thinks this is okay, they\u2019re contemptible and not fit for purpose.\u201d
— Dr. Bodie A. Ashton (@Dr. Bodie A. Ashton) 1654931581

The paper responded Sunday with a statement arguing, "To say that the Herald 'outed' Wilson is wrong."

\u201cFurther update. @SMH editor Bevan Shields has now made the following statement on the Sydney Morning Herald's story yesterday on @RebelWilson. https://t.co/MUm85Gadfk\u201d
— Kate Doak (@Kate Doak) 1654918889

Wilson, for her part, has tweeted simply that she's "trying to handle it with grace."

\u201c@katedoak @smh @theage Thanks for your comments, it was a very hard situation but trying to handle it with grace \ud83d\udc97\u201d
— Kate Doak (@Kate Doak) 1654918889