Rebel Wilson Responds to Bullying Accusations from ‘The Deb’s Lead Actress’ and Smear Websites
Rebel Wilson has reiterated her position as a self-proclaimed “champion of women” amidst an escalating legal conflict related to her directorial debut, The Deb. The lead actress of the film, Charlotte MacInnes, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Wilson in Australia, raising serious allegations about Wilson’s conduct.
During a nine-day trial, which commenced recently, Wilson presented evidence for the first time. MacInnes claims that Wilson harmed her reputation by suggesting she was a victim of “inappropriate behaviour” from producer Amanda Ghost, and that Wilson later collaborated with Ghost to conceal the incidents. Wilson counters that MacInnes had previously voiced her concerns regarding Ghost’s actions.
In court on Tuesday, Wilson appeared calm during cross-examination by MacInnes’ barrister, Sue Chrysanthou. Chrysanthou accused Wilson of bullying both MacInnes and Ghost, challenging the actress’s claims of advocacy for women. “That’s absolute nonsense,” Wilson responded. “If you look over my 25-year career, you can see many evidences of me supporting women.”
Wilson also denied any involvement in the creation of derogatory websites targeting Ghost, one of which labeled the producer as the “Indian Ghislaine Maxwell.” Attorneys for MacInnes have alleged that Wilson hired Melissa Nathan, a publicist from The Agency Group (TAG), to develop these websites.
MacInnes’ case references messages that emerged from a previous dispute involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, wherein Nathan allegedly stated that “Rebel wants” a “really harsh” website about “Amanda.” Wilson has consistently refuted these claims, previously telling a U.S. court that she “unequivocally” did not participate in any aspect of the websites’ creation.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Wilson acknowledged that her U.S. lawyer, Bryan Freedman, engaged TAG to assist with a legal dispute involving Ghost, but she denied any direct involvement in the websites. Chrysanthou confronted her about discrepancies regarding the topic, to which Wilson firmly replied, “No.”
Adding to the legal complexities, former TAG employee Katie Case testified that she received a “fully drafted” document detailing the requests for the website, though she could not identify its author. Notably, metadata indicated that Camp Sugar, Wilson’s production company, was involved in its creation. Wilson responded, “I can’t explain that.” Wilson’s barrister, Dauid Sibtain, has previously characterized the websites as a “distraction,” emphasizing that the crucial matter at hand is whether MacInnes indeed lodged a complaint with Wilson.
The case centers on a September 2023 incident in which Ghost and MacInnes allegedly shared a bath at a Sydney apartment following a swim at Bondi Beach. Wilson contends that MacInnes conveyed discomfort about the experience, only to later alter her stance after Ghost offered her professional opportunities.
“This is such a fun, girl-power movie,” Wilson remarked. “The worst thing that could have fallen into my lap at that point is a sexual harassment complaint from a lead actress against a producer.”
At the conclusion of the Tuesday session, Chrysanthou raised concerns about Wilson’s responsiveness during her testimony. Sibtain defended his client, asserting that Wilson was making an effort to provide comprehensive and sincere answers.
The The Deb dispute unfolds in both Los Angeles and Australia, overshadowing the film, which depicts outback teens participating in a debutante ball. Although it recently premiered in Australia, the film has yet to secure a distributor in the United States.
Justice Elizabeth Raper is overseeing the ongoing trial.
