Rachel Bilson says she is “devastated” after allegedly losing her job over comments she made on a podcast.
Speaking on Monday’s episode of her Broad Ideas podcast, the actress said: “It’s been an interesting week folks. This is the first time in my professional life that I’ve lost my job this week because of things being said and then circulated in the press, clickbait headlines and so on. I lost my first job.”
She continues, “I had a job taken away from me for being open and frank about sex in a humorous way on our friend’s podcast … Basically, I was stripped of a job that I already had for being open about sex.”
She says she’s “stunned” by the decision “in this day and age,” reiterating, “One single mom, one woman, lost her job because they were open and honest and it was about sex.” I hadn’t one chance to defend myself.”
The comments Bilson is referring to are from her interview on the Women On Top podcast, in which she discussed her favorite and least favorite sex positions. After sharing that she liked being “abused,” Bilson later clarified that the statement was meant to be light-hearted.
“First of all, in the interview, I said it jokingly, like, ‘Yeah, I want to be the f*cking abused.’ Basically, it’s like, okay, take control of the bedroom, or take control, whatever,” she explains on Broad Ideas.
“Because that certain line was drawn and it made a certain sound as a result, I didn’t even get a chance to defend myself. I didn’t have a chance to talk about it,” she later explains of the brand [she was involved with] “said they didn’t like that headline…I feel like it’s discrimination.” She also says she felt “embarrassed” by the unnamed company.
Bilson does not disclose what the task was. A Bilson representative told the Hollywood Reporter that it was an endorsement deal.
She also admits she “cried” after it all, and reflects on how that experience impacted her family: “I’m a single mom. As if I need these jobs…everything matters. You know, I take care of my family – my daughter – and apart from everything else, everything is important.”
Bilson recalls growing up in “a very open household where things were talked about” and sex was talked about “in a sacred way.” But after losing that job, she still feels “devastated.” “Everything started rolling and I lost the job. It sucks,” she adds.
Regardless of what happened, Bilson stands by her comments, saying, “I didn’t say anything inappropriate. Choice of language: If I could go back, I might say it differently now that I know I’ve lost my job. But I still wouldn’t say it.”
May 18, 1:21 p.m Updated with comment from Bilson’s rep.