Rebel Wilson Wins Defamation Case Brought by The Deb Co-Star Charlotte MacInnes

The Court’s Findings

The defamation proceedings were initiated by MacInnes, 27, who sued Wilson over four Instagram posts. In these posts, Wilson alleged that MacInnes had been sexually harassed by The Deb producer Amanda Ghost and subsequently colluded with Ghost to cover up the incident in exchange for career opportunities.

Justice Raper ruled in favor of Wilson, stating that MacInnes changed her story about feeling uncomfortable about what happened in the bathroom. The court determined that Wilson’s social media posts were not defamatory, with the judge noting that MacInnes failed to establish that the publications have caused or were likely to cause serious harm.

While the judge expressed serious misgivings regarding the truthfulness of the testimony provided by Wilson, MacInnes, and Ghost, she ultimately found that Wilson’s actions following the incident were consistent with a complaint having been made. According to Deadline, the judge concluded that Wilson’s own contemporaneous documentary trail supports this.

The Bondi Beach Incident

The core of the dispute involved an incident in September 2023 at an apartment near Bondi Beach. Following a swim, producer Amanda Ghost, 51, experienced a medical incident—described as a severe skin reaction to cold water—and entered a bathtub to warm up. MacInnes joined her in the bath. Both women testified that they were wearing swimsuits and that the encounter was non-sexual.

Wilson claimed that MacInnes told her at work the following day that the incident made her feel uncomfortable. MacInnes denied ever making such a complaint. Wilson further alleged that MacInnes later retracted her concerns after receiving career benefits from Ghost, including recording sessions in London and a contract with Warner Music. These allegations were denied by MacInnes.

For more on this story, see Rebel Wilson Wins Defamation Case Brought by Actress Charlotte MacInnes.

Context and Ongoing Legal Battles

The trial, which included two weeks of hearings in May, featured testimony regarding disparaging social media posts, claims of embezzled movie funds, and the alleged involvement of a Russian oligarch. The court also heard evidence concerning a website created by Wilson’s U.S.-based PR firm, which was written to appear as an anonymous whistleblower site alleging that MacInnes had been assaulted by Ghost. Wilson denied requesting the creation of the site.

As reported by ABC News, this case is only one of several legal challenges surrounding The Deb. Producers of the film are currently pursuing litigation against Wilson in the UK, the U.S., and the NSW Supreme Court, accusing the actress of blocking the film’s release and pursuing an unjustified vendetta after being denied a writing credit.

Future Outlook

Following the verdict, Wilson released a statement expressing gratitude that the process had reached its conclusion. I’m grateful the court has taken the time to carefully consider the evidence and reach its decision, Wilson said. This has been a long process and throughout I have tried to stay grounded in my values and what I believed was right.

The Deb, which was released in Australia in April after several delays, is scheduled for a U.S. digital release on August 25, 2026. Despite the ruling, the legal environment remains complex, with PressBee noting that there are numerous other legal fronts regarding the film that remain unresolved.