Serial reality star Abbie Chatfield has condemned the Sydney Morning Herald’s “really disappointing” reportage of actor Rebel Wilson‘s same-sex relationship.
The titan newspaper has copped worldwide backlash en masse after the 42-year-old Pitch Perfect star announced on June 10 that she was in a relationship with LA fashion designer, Ramona Agruma.
The following day, the SMH published a gossip piece by columnist Andrew Hornery, in which he described his frustration that Rebel had announced the relationship before he could.
Noting that he had contacted the star’s team to confirm the news within 48 hours, Andrew described the move as a “big mistake” as it gave Rebel the opportunity to out herself.
The article in question has since been deleted and the columnist has apologised for his “mishandling” of the subject.
However, this didn’t stop Abbie from tearing the publication a new one.
During the June 13 episode of her radio show Hot Nights With Abbie Chatfield, Abbie failed to sympathise with Andrew and the SMH amid the backlash.
“Oh, you poor things,” the 26-year-old declared, adding that the coverage was “really disappointing”.
She also paraphrased the gossip columnist’s complaint, which deduced that Rebel “had decided to quote-unquote ‘gazump’ the story, and ruin our chances of getting attention and clicks”.
Abbie Chatfield Questions the Sydney Morning Herald’s Rebel Wilson Article
Abbie called out one particular sentence in the column, in which the SMH called out Rebel’s Instagram announcement: “The same platform she had used to boast about her handsome ex-boyfriend.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here 2021 winner wondered. “Are you implying she isn’t gay? Are you implying she was never in love with her ex-boyfriend? What is the implication there? What do you mean?”
Adding that she would’ve similarly outed herself if she was in Rebel’s shoes, Abbie said it wouldn’t be a shock if the actor’s announcement was an F-U to the SMH.
“I don’t know if Rebel did this maliciously, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she was like, ‘You know what, screw this, if they’re going to out me, I’m going to do it myself and I am going to ruin their story’.”
As for the lesson learnt amid the saga surrounding Rebel’s relationship, Abbie said it was simple: “Don’t out people.”
Hear, hear!
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