SYDNEY: Actor Rebel Wilson said an Australian newspaper had put him in a "very difficult position" after fans accused him of pressuring him to reveal his relationship with a woman.
The Pitch Perfect actor posted a selfie with his "Disney Princess" partner on Instagram on Friday, a day before the Sydney Morning Herald reported that he was aware of the relationship and asked Wilson to comment. was given for two days.
The Herald denied pressuring Wilson, saying it contained "simply asked questions".
In his first comment on the controversy, Wilson responded on Sunday to a Twitter user who accused the Herald of giving two days' notice that they were going to oust the actor.
"This was a very difficult situation but trying to handle it gracefully," Wilson tweeted.
According to the newspaper, its gossip columnist questioned Wilson about his relationship "with great care and respect".
Columnist Andrew Hornery wrote in an article published Saturday, "Big mistake. Wilson chose to focus on the story by posting about his new 'Disney Princess' on Instagram on Friday morning."
As social media outraged, Herald editor Bevan Shields defended the column.
"If Wilson's new partner had been a man, we would have asked the same question," Shields wrote.
This was not the first time Wilson had feuded with the Australian media – in 2017, he was paid a record AUS$4.7 million ($3.3 million) defamation payout over a series of articles that claimed he had written off his Lied about name, age and childhood. Move over Hollywood.
After a successful appeal by the magazine's publisher, Wilson's award was revised to A$600,000.