How Rebel Wilson called Sacha Baron Cohen sex scene the 'most disgusting thing ever' nine years before sparking legal battle by branding him an 'a**hole' in 'demonstrably false' book

Rebel Wilson branded her sex scene with Sacha Baron Cohen 'the most disgusting thing ever', nine years before calling the star an 'a**hole' in her new memoir. 

The Australian actress, 44, starred opposite the British funnyman, 52, in 2016's Grimsby, in which they shot a sex scene together - leading to her shock comment. 

While on the promo trail for the movie in 2015, Rebel told news.com.au: 'I had a sex scene with Sacha Baron Cohen and it was just the most disgusting thing ever'. 

Nearly a decade on from the shock comment, Rebel named Sacha as the celebrity responsible for making threats over her no-holds-barred memoir, Rebel Rising, after which his representatives branded her slurs 'demonstrably false' on Monday. 

Taking to Instagram on Sunday to confirm the star's identity, Rebel 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.' 

Rebel Wilson branded her sex scene with Sacha Baron Cohen 'the most disgusting thing ever', nine years before calling the star an 'a**hole' in her new memoir (pictured filming Grimsby in 2014)

The Australian actress, 44, starred opposite the British funnyman, 52, in 2016's Grimsby, in which they shot a sex scene together - leading to her shock comment at the time

In the wake of her statement, Sacha spoke out to TMZ via representatives, saying: 'While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence...

'[With] contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby.'

As well as her shock comments about the 'disgusting' sex scene in Grimsby, in an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly at the time, the Pitch Perfect star also slammed her character Dawn wearing a burqa in one scene.

She insisted at the time that the scenes were all in the name of comedy: ‘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'.

She added: ‘But she’s pretty liberal and lives in New York so who knows? But it is a joke and no offence meant'.

Rebel's 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. 

She detailed: '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. He is trying to stop press coming out about my book. But the book WILL come out and you will all know.'

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.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday to confirm the star's identity, Rebel 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 two days after the Pitch Perfect star alleged that a celebrity she had worked with was threatening her over the release of the memoir 

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.

'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!'

Rebel and Sacha starred together in Grimsby alongside Mark Strong, Gabourey Sidibe and Isla Fisher - Cohen's wife of 14-years.

In the wake of her statement, Sacha spoke out to TMZ via representatives, saying: 'While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence'

Wilson and Cohen's wife Isla Fisher previously co-starred in the 2012 film Bachelorette

The Ali G creator portrays reformed football hooligan Norman 'Nobby' Grimsby who is forced to go on the run with his brother - a suave secret agent played by Strong.

Rebel plays his on-screen love interest Dawn while his real-life love and fellow Australian actress Isla 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. 

The film 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, Sacha opened up about casting Rebel as his love interest in the comedy, instead of wife and co-star Isla.

Cohen, dressed in character, and wife Fisher attend the Grimsby world premiere in 2016

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.'

Sacha went on to add that he and Rebel 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.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Cohen's representatives for further comment.