Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson has responded after it emerged a journalist had given her a deadline on providing a comment about her relationship with Ramona Agruma.
Wilson shared news of her romance with Agruma in a post on Instagram on Friday, 10 June, but the following day Sydney Morning Herald journalist Andrew Hornery published an opinion piece in which he revealed he previously had reached out to Wilson with plans to write a story on her relationship.
"It was 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 another woman, LA leisure wear designer Ramona Agruma, before publishing a single word," Hornery wrote.
News that Wilson was given a time limit on her response prompted many Twitter users to criticise Hornery for his actions, with one Twitter user sharing Hornery's article and writing: "So apparently it wasn't @RebelWilson's choice to come out..."
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"The [Sydney Morning Herald]/@theage have admitted to giving her a heads up 2 days in advance that they were going to 'out' her," the Twitter user continued.
Wilson, who has remained quiet on social media since announcing her relationship with Agruma, responded to the tweet to thank the poster for their support.
She wrote: "Thanks for your comments, it was a very hard situation but trying to handle it with grace."
Wilson's response appears to confirm the idea she was 'forced' to share her relationship after receiving the correspondence from Hornery, though Sydney Morning Herald editor Bevan Shields has argued otherwise.
In an article published in response to the claim, the editor said the Herald had 'simply asked questions and as standard practice included a deadline for a response'.
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Shields also claimed to have made 'no decision' about what the outlet would publish in relation to Wilson's relationship status, and argued the actor 'made the decision to publicly disclose her new partner'.
"Our weekly Private Sydney celebrity column last week asked Wilson if she wished to comment about her new partner. We would have asked the same questions had Wilson’s new partner been a man," Shields wrote.
The editor added that the outlet wished 'Wilson and Agruma well'.
Wilson described Agruma as a 'Disney princess' in her post on Friday, adding that she had mistakenly been 'searching for a Disney Prince' before the pair got together.
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Emily Brown