Rebel Wilson Wins Defamation Case Against Actress Charlotte MacInnes Over Social Media Posts

Rebel Wilson has won a defamation case brought by actress Charlotte MacInnes, who claimed the Pitch Perfect star defamed her through social media posts. An Australian federal court judge ruled that Wilson's Instagram posts did not cause serious harm to MacInnes's reputation, dismissing the lawsuit after months of legal proceedings. The case centered on allegations Wilson made about a contentious incident during production of The Deb, Wilson's directorial debut film.

The Core Dispute

MacInnes claimed Wilson falsely suggested she had withdrawn a sexual harassment complaint against the film's producers to advance her career. In her posts to approximately 11 million followers, Wilson implied that MacInnes had confided uncomfortable details about an encounter with producer Amanda Ghost, then later recanted the complaint. MacInnes denied ever filing such a complaint in the first place.

The disputed incident involved MacInnes and Ghost sharing a bath at a Sydney penthouse rented by the production company in September 2023. Both women said they wore swimwear and entered the water after Ghost experienced a physical reaction—severe shivering and welts—following a swim at Bondi Beach. MacInnes stated in her court filing that "there was nothing sexual in any way" about the encounter. Wilson, however, claimed MacInnes had told her that Ghost asked her to shower and bathe together, and that the experience made her uncomfortable.

Court's Decision and Reasoning

Justice Elizabeth Raper found in favor of Wilson, determining that "MacInnes has failed to establish that the publications have caused or were likely to cause serious harm." The judge also noted that the circumstances surrounding how the two women came to be in the bath together were "unusual." Wilson's legal team argued she had no motive to fabricate complaints that would endanger her film by creating conflict between its lead actor and a key producer.

During the hearing, Wilson maintained her position as a "truth-teller," telling the court she did not classify her social media posts as an attack but rather as sharing her understanding of events. MacInnes's barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, had characterized Wilson as someone who engaged in "complete revision of history" and accused her of dishonesty throughout the case.

Production Turmoil

The Deb, set in an outback Australian town and following two cousins reuniting for a debutante ball, became entangled in a broader legal dispute. Beyond the defamation case, multiple court matters have surrounded the film's production, involving allegations of smear campaigns and embezzlement. Wilson previously described the legal complications as "like your worst nightmare" to Australian media.