Rebel Wilson wins defamation case brought by The Deb actor Charlotte MacInnes

Rebel Wilson has successfully defended herself against a defamation lawsuit brought by Charlotte MacInnes, a young actor who featured in Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb. On Wednesday, Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the case in a Federal Court ruling, finding that the social media publications in question did not reach the legal threshold required to constitute serious harm.

The dispute centered on a series of Instagram posts authored by Wilson. In these posts, Wilson suggested that MacInnes had leveled a sexual harassment complaint against the film’s producer, Amanda Ghost, only to retract that statement later to further her own career. MacInnes sought damages, claiming the posts caused her online abuse and negatively impacted her professional prospects. Wilson maintained her position throughout the trial, asserting she was merely recounting events as they occurred. During the proceedings, Wilson told the court, I am known as a truth-teller and insisted she was simply telling the truth.

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Central to the conflict was an incident occurring in September 2023 at a Sydney penthouse. According to court records, MacInnes and Ghost claimed they were both in swimwear and occupied a bathtub to warm up after Ghost suffered a physical reaction to cold water at Bondi Beach. Wilson, however, maintained that MacInnes initially confided in her that the situation made her feel uncomfortable before allegedly changing her account of the encounter. Justice Raper remarked in her statement, To say that the circumstances surrounding how they came to be in the bath are unusual would be an understatement. The court ultimately determined that the only statement definitively proven was that MacInnes had changed her account of the event. Consequently, the judge ruled that this specific claim was not defamatory.

The proceedings included intense scrutiny of the credibility of those involved. During her closing address in May, MacInnes’s barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, described Wilson as a fantastical liar who had fabricated allegations regarding multiple individuals. While Justice Raper acknowledged possessing serious misgivings regarding the truthfulness of the testimonies provided by Wilson, MacInnes, and Ghost, she noted that Wilson’s conduct remained consistent with a complaint having been made, supported by a contemporary documentary trail.

Following the dismissal of the case, Justice Raper ordered MacInnes to cover Wilson’s legal costs. Wilson addressed the conclusion of the case via Instagram, where she expressed relief and gratitude for the outcome. She shared her perspective on the ordeal:

"It has tested me, but it has also reinforced something I've always believed. I want to live my life standing up for what I believe is right, while continuing to create work that brings people joy. Thank you to everyone who has supported me. I'm grateful this chapter has reached its conclusion. Thank you to the Judge and the Australian legal system who I have the utmost respect for."

This ruling brings a close to one specific legal challenge, but the broader environment surrounding The Deb remains complex. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, but it has yet to see a wide release due to ongoing, separate legal battles between Wilson and the film's producers.

Summary of Findings

Wilson has a history with high-profile defamation proceedings. In 2017, she secured a win against Bauer Media regarding magazine articles that portrayed her as a liar, although the damages were later reduced on appeal.