Just as Rebel Wilson promised, her soon-to-be-released memoir will unveil a different side of her, including her traumatic childhood.
A snippet of the Australian actress’s new biography, “Rebel Rising,” revealed the secrets behind her famous name and why her late father wouldn’t be winning any dad awards thanks to his troubling parenting.
Rebel Wilson Gets Candid About Troubling Childhood Experience With Her Late Dad
In her memoir, set to hit shelves on April 4, the “Pitch Perfect” star revealed her mother initially wished to name her Rebel, but her father was against it. He called her mother’s choice “ridiculous” and settled on calling the actress Melanie.
“Mum didn’t stand up to Dad that day, nor for almost 17 subsequent years,” Wilson recalled in her book, noting that her father went on to inflict painful scars before his death in 2013.
The 44-year-old stated in her interview with The Sunday Times that her father had hit her across the face three times and once tried to grab her. On that occasion, he threatened a young Wilson, saying:
“I’m going to choke you and 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 you if you say one more thing, Melanie … I’m going to throttle you.”
Rebel Wilson’s Father’s Alleged Abuse Influenced Her Weight Gain
Wilson explained that these alleged incidents with her father sparked her dependence on food, which then led to an unhealthy habit that contributed to her weight gain. In her words:
“In those moments when I was worried or scared, I turned to food. I think because I saw my mum do it. Everybody has a coping mechanism — eating is mine.”
When Wilson was 17, her mother finally found the courage to sever her ties to her father and kicked him out of their lives. With him gone, the actress changed her name from Melanie to Rebel.
As for her weight, the 44-year-old confessed that it had more to do with her emotional health than a physical problem. She said, “I wasn’t dealing with my emotions properly; I was just stuffing my face and holding on to them.”
The ‘Pitch Perfect’ Star Once Used Ozempic
Following her decision to lose weight and get healthy, Wilson achieved an incredible transformation that birthed the stunning blonde beauty we know today. In 2020, she successfully dropped 80 pounds and then joined the Ozempic train.
However, she didn’t use the viral Hollywood cheat hack for weight loss but to maintain her new figure. “Someone like me could have a bottomless appetite for sweets, so I think those drugs can be good,” Wilson explained.
Despite the benefits of Ozempic, the 44-year-old stressed that she no longer uses the diabetes drug. She noted that she has found a weight she is comfortable with, which she described as “still curvy and solid.”
“I feel strongly that young women shouldn’t try to obsess over looking like Victoria’s Secret models — they should just look like themselves,” Wilson said. “I know that my relationship with food is complicated.”
Wilson Gave A Warning About Her Memoir
Last December, the “Isn’t It Romantic” star promoted her upcoming memoir in a candid Instagram Story video. She shared behind-the-scenes moments of the biography’s development and captured herself signing copies of the book.
The literary venture promises to explore Wilson’s unconventional Hollywood journey and address personal topics such as fertility, weight, 𝓈ℯ𝓍uality, and more.
In the video, the actress teased fans about her memoir and noted that it will showcase unseen parts of her life.
“You guys, I mean, I can’t wait for you to read this. You’re going to see a whole new side of me. Lots of funny stuff and serious stuff,” she declared, adding:
“And hopefully, you guys will love the book as much as I’ve loved writing it — although sometimes it’s been gut-wrenching and emotional.”
Rebel Wilson Said The Writing Process Was Challenging
Wilson previously addressed the development of her book in an interview, in which she confessed that the writing process was challenging.
The initial chapters had fallen below her expectations, prompting her to find her authentic writing style. As for how she overcame this hurdle, the 44-year-old said:
“So what I started doing is I just sat there by myself as if I’m just telling the story to a friend. I just kind of found my writing style — as if I’m sitting opposite my friend, telling you all my life’s deepest secrets, which is a bit scary.”
Wilson noted that the entire process was intimate as she kept the deepest parts of herself on paper. Nonetheless, she couldn’t be happier to have embarked on the literary adventure.
“I’ve been writing the book for the past 18 months because when I write, I have to be totally by myself and isolated,” she said. “It’s just been this secret thing I’ve been doing by myself for 18 months. It’s so exciting now that it’s done.”
