Rebel Wilson, Charlotte MacInnes heated defamation trial draws to a close
A hotly contested defamation battle between Rebel Wilson and the star of her directorial debut film is ready to wrap after two weeks.
The curtains are set to close on the fiery high-profile court battle between Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson and the star of her directorial debut film after two weeks.
The pair had nothing but mutual admiration for each other when they began working together on musical comedy The Deb, which Wilson directed, co-produced, and starred in.
But three years later, the Pitch Perfect star and Charlotte MacInnes are on opposite sides of a heated defamation lawsuit in the Federal Court.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Unfortunately, what started as a dream has turned out to be a nightmare,” Wilson wrote in her sworn statement.
The sentiment was echoed by MacInnes, who claimed the older actor defamed her in a series of social media posts that suggested she was a liar and a sellout who walked back a sexual misconduct complaint to further her career.
The posts claimed the rising star confided to Wilson - and later recanted - that she felt uncomfortable when the film’s co-producer Amanda Ghost asked to have a shower and a bath together.
MacInnes has denied making or retracting a complaint, insisting she was not uncomfortable when the pair shared a bath in their swimwear after Ms Ghost suffered a medical episode in September 2023.
The legal fight is set to conclude on Friday with closing remarks from both sides.
Accusations of dishonesty were flung from both corners when the hearing began two weeks ago.
“(This is) a malignant allegation against my client that she sold the allegation of sexual harassment in exchange for her own professional and commercial benefit,” MacInnes’ barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC said.
She argued Wilson had been embroiled in an increasingly tense dispute with her co-producers about the budget as well as a bitter fight over writing credit at the time.
The Hollywood actor took out defamation insurance the day after finding out she wouldn’t be credited as a writer on The Deb so she could “go ballistic on social media”, Ms Chrysanthou said.
“Ms Wilson was not a whistleblower who was seeking to protect a young actress,” she asserted.
“She raises, we say, this non-existent allegation that had been put to bed for her own commercial benefit.”
Wilson’s barrister Dauid Sibtain SC dismissed the suggestion as “preposterous”.
He argued MacInnes dishonestly changed her story in exchange for future opportunities, which have since materialised as a lead role and a six-figure record deal.
“She changed her story ... to ensure her career as an actress and musician progressed by appeasing Ms Ghost,” Mr Sibtain told the court.
“Ms MacInnes knew that Ms Ghost was the person who had the power to make her acting and music dreams come true.”
He argued the young actor had not suffered any damage to her reputation or experienced any slowing of her career after the social media posts, contrary to her allegations.
Justice Elizabeth Raper is expected to reserve her decision after closing addresses conclude on Friday.
