Rebel Wilson has a profound fear of insects, and for good reason.
"I've always had 'bugs-xiety' from growing up in Australia, where there are a lot of bugs," Wilson, 44, shared in an interview with Us Weekly.
However, her fear intensified after a life-threatening experience. "When I was 18, I contracted malaria. I woke up in the African bush with about 100 mosquito bites on my face," she recalled. "I was hospitalized for two weeks and could have died; it was very, very bad."
Malaria, as the CDC explains, is caused by a parasite that infects certain mosquitoes and can be deadly if not treated quickly. Initial symptoms often resemble the flu, but if untreated, the infection can lead to severe complications such as kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, and coma.
Wilson's aversion isn't limited to mosquitoes. "I also remember my mom's house always had little flying gnats around the fruit bowl, and I hated it," she told Us Weekly.
Her concern about bugs has heightened since becoming a mother. "I don't want any little bugs crawling around at home, especially after having a baby," she said, referring to her 19-month-old daughter, Royce Lillian, whom she shares with fiancée Ramona Agruma.
Wilson's desire to have a child was a major factor in her weight-loss journey, during which she lost 80 pounds. "I had a consultation with a fertility doctor who told me I'd have a much better chance of having a child if I were healthy," she explained. "It really hit a nerve that my health could prevent me from having a child. I went through this whole health journey to get my daughter, Royce."
Reflecting on her experiences, Wilson said, "I am so proud of my life and all the things I've gone through. I'm at a point now where I can be really open. It's cathartic to put it all out there and then move on to the next chapters."
The Quran - Chapter Al-Waqi'ah : 52
will certainly eat from ˹the fruit of˺ the trees of Zaqqûm,
