Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has emerged victorious in a defamation lawsuit brought against her by actress Charlotte MacInnes, following a ruling by an Australian judge. Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed MacInnes's claims that Wilson's Instagram posts, concerning their co-starring roles in Wilson's directorial debut 'The Deb', had caused serious harm to her reputation. The judgment, delivered on Wednesday, also ordered MacInnes to cover Wilson's legal expenses.
The legal proceedings stemmed from a series of Instagram posts published by Wilson in 2024 and 2025. MacInnes, who played the lead in 'The Deb', contended that these posts falsely implied she had retracted a sexual harassment complaint against one of the film's producers to further her career. She argued that these allegations subjected her to online abuse and ridicule, while also negatively impacting her employment prospects within the industry, according to court submissions.
During the trial, the court heard extensive testimony regarding a September 2023 incident involving MacInnes and Amanda Ghost, a producer on 'The Deb'. Both women testified that they had entered a bath together, wearing swimsuits, after Ghost experienced an adverse physical reaction from swimming at Sydney's Bondi Beach. They maintained that the interaction was not sexual, with Ghost describing herself as uncontrollably shivering and having developed welts after the swim. Justice Raper noted the unusual circumstances surrounding their entry into the bath.
Wilson consistently asserted that MacInnes had initially described the incident to her as making her feel 'uncomfortable' after Ghost allegedly asked her to shower and bathe together. Wilson told the court she interpreted these remarks as a report of sexual harassment and felt a directorial responsibility to act. She denied fabricating the allegations or using them as leverage in other production disputes, stating in court, "I am known as a truth-teller," and that her social media posts were simply "telling the truth."
Conversely, MacInnes denied ever making or withdrawing a sexual harassment complaint. Her barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, accused Wilson of a "complete revision of history" and labelled her a "fantastical liar." Wilson's barrister, Dauid Sibtain SC, countered these claims, arguing his client had "no motive to lie" and suggested MacInnes withdrew any complaint to maintain a beneficial professional relationship with Ghost. Following the ruling, Wilson took to Instagram to express gratitude to Justice Raper and the Australian legal system for what she termed a "substantial win."
While 'The Deb' is Wilson's directorial debut, her previous work, including 'Pitch Perfect' and 'Bridesmaids', has garnered significant international attention. UK audiences can typically find her films available on major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Sky Cinema. The outcome of this case highlights the complexities of social media use for public figures and the serious implications of defamation laws, particularly in the entertainment industry.