Ever since they first started dating, Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have been considered one of Hollywood’s most mysterious and unexpected pairs. While their acting skills are widely recognized, their timing in making a significant personal announcement last week may have left some people scratching their heads.
The couple revealed on their respective Instagram accounts that they had filed for divorce in 2023. This occurred a few days after Rebel Wilson made clear in her new memoir, Rebel Rising, that she had experienced s*xual harassment and lewd demands from Cohen during their collaboration on the 2016 comedy flick, The Brothers Grimsby.
According to a close source to the estranged couple, Wilson’s allegations are in no way connected with Cohen and Fisher’s split.
Rebel Wilson’s Side of the Story Against Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have been together for years, getting married in 2010. Although they appeared content while remaining reticent, insiders are disclosing details about their startling split announcement in April 2024.
The couple, who met each other in 2001, revealed on Friday, April 5, via their respective Instagram handles (@sachabaroncohen and @islafisher) that they had broken up the previous year. The posts said (per THR):
“After a long tennis match lasting over 20 years, we are finally putting our racquets down. In 2023, we jointly filed to end our marriage. We have always prioritised our privacy, and have been quietly working through this change…We forever share in our devotion and love for our children. We sincerely appreciate your respecting our family’s wish for privacy.”
It happened only a few days after Rebel Wilson, 44, in her memoir Rebel Rising, revealed startling details about her encounter with the “a**hole” comedian. She alleged that her The Brothers Grimsby co-star told her to undress while they were filming scenes for the 2016 comedy movie (via Daily Mail).
Many thought Wilson’s accusations had something to do with Fisher and Cohen’s separation. It was “a catalyst” for Fisher to announce their split and gave her the opportunity to safeguard her “own career and reputation”, a source close to The Sun said. The Bachelorette actress was “starting to get embarrassed” about the claims made in the book, Rebel Rising.
A close friend of Fisher and Baron Cohen, however, claimed that Wilson’s memoir includes accusations unrelated to their separation.
Is Isla Fisher’s Divorce Announcement Unrelated to Rebel Wilson’s Allegations?
A report from Daily Mail revealed that Isla Fisher’s decision to divorce Sacha Baron Cohen after over 10 years was caused by her heartbreak over her father’s passing. In a strange photo shared on Friday, the 52-year-old British actor and 48-year-old Australian actress revealed they had discreetly split up in 2023.
Fisher and her father were very close, according to the friend. The latter also revealed that the actress “reassess[ed] her life” after her dad’s passing and that she was “absolutely devastated”. The pal added:
“Isla and her dad were so close; she absolutely adored him and losing him destroyed her. It was one of those moments in life that changes you, and it wasn’t long after this that Isla began to consult lawyers about splitting up with Sacha. Maybe, after all, she decided that he wasn’t the man that she would spend the rest of her life with. Her dad was such a strong, male influence in her life.”
The two were reportedly “at odds” with one another, arguing primarily over schedule conflicts and obligations to their families, insiders told UsWeekly. The insiders claimed that even though they have both had demanding schedules for years, there might not have been a fair distribution of childcare responsibilities.
Currently, Fisher is part of Noah Baumbach’s untitled movie, which also stars Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, George Clooney, and Adam Sandler. Cohen is also working on Chinaka Hodge’s miniseries Ironheart. Thus, they have a lot on their plate.
