Rebel Wilson wins defamation fight with The Deb star Charlotte MacInnes
A Sydney judge ruled Rebel Wilson did not defame Charlotte MacInnes in Instagram posts about a dispute tied to The Deb.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Rebel Wilson has won a defamation case brought by Charlotte MacInnes, the Australian actress who appears in Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb, after a Sydney court found the posts at the center of the fight were not defamatory.
Justice Elizabeth Raper delivered the decision in Sydney on Wednesday, ruling against MacInnes after a legal battle tied to claims Wilson made about events involving The Deb producer Amanda Ghost.
MacInnes had sued Wilson over four Instagram posts in which the Bridesmaids actor discussed an alleged incident from September 2023. According to Deadline, the case centered on Ghost sharing a bath with MacInnes in a Sydney apartment after the two had been swimming at Bondi beach.
MacInnes claimed Wilson harmed her reputation by saying she had been sexually harassed by Ghost and then later worked with Ghost to hide what had happened.
Wilson argued that MacInnes told her the bathroom incident had made her uncomfortable. Wilson also alleged MacInnes later backed away from that complaint after Ghost offered her career opportunities.
The judge sided with Wilson on the key issue. Justice Raper ruled that “MacInnes changed her story about feeling uncomfortable about what happened in the bathroom,” and found Wilson’s posts were not defamatory “by reason of these findings.”
Raper also found MacInnes had not cleared another hurdle in the case, saying: “MacInnes has failed to establish that the publications have caused or were likely to cause serious harm.”
Wilson welcomed the ruling in a statement after the decision.
“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. I’m thankful that process has now reached its conclusion.”
Wilson also turned the focus back to The Deb, saying the film is a project she cares strongly about.
“I have always believed in the importance of telling stories that reflect real experiences and give people the opportunity to see themselves represented,” Wilson said. “The Deb is a story I’m incredibly passionate about because it celebrates individuality, resilience and the courage to be yourself. I hope audiences will experience the story for themselves and connect with the values at its heart.”
She added: “Right now, what I’m focused on is what matters most, my family and my work.”
The ruling closes this part of the dispute, but the wider fight around The Deb is not finished. Deadline reported that other legal issues remain unresolved, including arguments between Wilson and the film’s producers.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.