Rebel Wilson appeared at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney on Monday to begin hearing procedures for the defamation lawsuit filed against her by actress Charlotte MacInnes. MacInnes plays a lead role in The Deb, the debut directorial film from Wilson, the release of which has been significantly delayed due to legal battles. Legal representatives for the actress referred to Wilson as a “bully” in court, accusing her of using MacInnes as “leverage” in a separate dispute with producers of the film.
The lawsuit primarily pertains to a series of Instagram posts published by Wilson. MacInnes claims the actress-director shared posts that suggested she was sexually harassed by Amanda Ghost — a producer on The Deb whom Wilson previously sued for breach of contract and fraud — and in turn damaged her reputation.
MacInnes and Ghost allegedly shared a bath together, while clothed in swimming suits, after returning from Bondi Beach in 2023. Wilson stated that MacInnes told her she was uncomfortable with the situation, and later suggested on Instagram that the young actress retract her complaint after receiving professional opportunities from Ghost. “The fact that this girl has been employed now by this ‘producer’ in the lead role of a production called GATSBY (ART Boston) and given a record label — should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story,” Wilson wrote in 2024.
Representatives for MacInnes referred to this as “a malignant allegation against my client, that she sold the allegation of sexual harassment in exchange for her own professional and commercial benefit,” per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Wilson’s legal representation echoed her suggestion that MacInnes benefited from the dispute. “She’s suffered no harm to her reputation, indeed, her career has progressed,” her lawyer said, per BBC. “All of these wealth of prizes and opportunities that have materialized has come, we would suggest, because Ms. MacInnes decided to tie herself to Ms. Ghost’s version … MacInnes lied by denying she had made a complaint to Ms. Wilson, that a producer had asked her to have a bath and shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable.”
A lawyer for Wilson did not immediately return Rolling Stone‘s requests for comment.
In a sworn declaration filed in November, as part of legal ongoings between Ghost and Wilson, MacInnes disputed Wilson’s account. “Ms. Ghost and I went swimming in the ocean near the apartment, and the cold water caused Ms. Ghost to have a medical reaction. I helped Ms. Ghost by bringing her back to the apartment and running a warm shower and bath to warm her back up. We both remained in our bathing suits, since we had been swimming in the ocean,” she wrote. “There was nothing sexual or inappropriate about the incident whatsoever. It was a medical situation.” (A lawyer for MacInnes did not immediately return Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.)
In January, a Los Angeles judge granted Ghost’s request to sharply narrow the breach of contract and fraud lawsuit filed by Wilson. That case now largely focuses on claims against the production company behind The Deb, rather than Ghost as an individual.
The defamation hearing is expected to last nine days and will be livestreamed on the Federal Court of Australia’s YouTube channel.
Michaela Coel in ‘The Christophers.’Claudette Barius/NEON
