Fat Pizza creator Paul Fenech reveals he is ‘hurt’ by ‘ungrateful’ Rebel Wilson’s allegations she was butt of ‘fatphobic’ jokes on hit Aussie TV show in memoir

Fat Pizza creator Paul Fenech has voiced his dismay and hurt over Rebel Wilson’s recent allegations against the hit Australian SBS comedy series.

In her upcoming memoir, Wilson, 44, has accused the show of making her the target of ‘fatphobic’ jokes and criticised the working environment she was part of early in her career.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Fenech, 51, expressed his disappointment with Wilson’s portrayal of her time on the SBS show, categorising her comments as ungrateful.

‘Rebel was happy building a career playing the big girl in Hollywood, now she’s saying we did her wrong? We gave her a start, took her around the world, gave her stage training and TV and feature film opportunities. How ungrateful,’ he stated, openly challenging Wilson’s narrative.

Fenech, who has long been recognised for giving newcomers their break in the industry, took particular offense to Wilson’s remarks, suggesting they were aimed at boosting book sales rather than reflecting the reality of her experience.

‘I guess she’ll do or say anything to sell a book,’ Fenech remarked, questioning the authenticity of Wilson’s claims. 

The Fat Pizza creator went on to defend his and the show’s support for Wilson at the start of her career, emphasising the creative freedom and opportunities provided to her.

He added: ‘We always looked after her and gave her the creative freedom she needed. But look at the end of the day No thank you. No gratitude, [and calling us] fatphobic?’

‘Rebel made her Hollywood career playing the big girl. Now suddenly Fat Pizza treated her badly? It’s hurtful and disgusting to me to hear this,’ Fenech expressed, highlighting his shock and disappointment at the allegations.

Wilson’s allegations surfaced ahead of the release of her book Rebel Rising: A Memoir, scheduled to hit the shelves on April 2.

In her book, she details the alleged struggles she faced on Fat Pizza, as well as generally opening up about her battle with body image and sexism she encountered in the industry.

Her candid account reveals her mother’s disapproval and her male colleagues’ alleged professional scorn, which she faced despite refusing to conform to the toxic beauty standards of the era.

Her role in the SBS comedy as Toula, the ‘overweight girlfriend’ of a character named Habib, became a pivotal moment in her career. 

Despite the nature of the role, Wilson saw it as an opportunity to break the mould in the film industry.

‘I flaunt my fat stomach on national TV, deliberately making myself look bad for comic effect,’ Wilson shared in an exclusive extract obtained by The Herald Sun, highlighting the lengths she went to in order to make her mark in the industry. 

The memoir also details the isolation and loneliness Wilson endured, exacerbated by a ‘dangerous relationship with food’.

Her commitment to her character, even in the face of her mother’s refusal to watch the show, showcases her determination to succeed on her own terms.

However, this path was fraught with challenges, as Wilson claimed she was subjected to ‘many, many derogatory jokes about my size and appearance’ on set. 

Wilson’s narrative goes beyond her personal battle with body image to include her struggle against sexism in the film industry as a whole.

Despite alleged derogatory treatment, she persevered and used her humor and talent to gain access to what she described as a ‘special men’s club’.

‘I felt like the girl who had gained access to a special men’s club, it was very clear to me what they found funny, and I went with it. I was in a boys’ show, so I had to take their fatphobic jokes right on my double chin,’ she recalled. 

However, she alleged that this access came at the cost of enduring ‘fatphobic jokes’ and striving to prove her worth.

‘I knew the jokes weren’t directed at me personally – my role was to be the big fat whale that got laughs, and I was willingly playing into that,’ she added.

Rebel was determined to give the character of Toula ‘depth’ and said she improvised her own lines and fought to get more screen time.