Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has denied lying as she maintains she had no involvement in websites that attacked a producer with whom she is feuding. The Pitch Perfect star is being sued by Charlotte MacInnes, the Australian lead actor of the musical comedy The Deb. MacInnes claims she was defamed by social media posts from Wilson that suggest she is a liar who retracted a sexual harassment complaint to advance her career.
Courtroom Testimony
Giving evidence in the Federal Court on Tuesday, Wilson denied authoring or ordering the creation of malicious websites that described co-producer Amanda Ghost as an “Indian Ghislaine Maxwell” and a sex trafficker. She said her US lawyer hired The Agency Group to assist her with a legal dispute with her co-producers, repeatedly insisting the firm had not been commissioned to work for her. Wilson rejected suggestions from MacInnes’ barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC that she was lying and pretending to misunderstand questions.
Key Allegations
Wilson claims that MacInnes confided that she felt uncomfortable after sharing a bath in swimwear with Ghost following a medical episode in September 2023. MacInnes denies making the complaint and says her reputation has been damaged by suggestions she retracted it for a lead role and a record deal. The court heard that the claims were referenced in smear websites created by a crisis PR team.
Wilson said she didn’t think she would have been horrified by the allegations against Ghost on the websites because the producer had been bullying and harassing her at the time. She was questioned about a previous statement that she regarded herself as a champion of women and considered her commitment to The Deb as proof of that. “If you look over my 25-year career, you can see many evidences of me supporting women,” Wilson replied.
Defense Arguments
Wilson’s lawyer, Dauid Sibtain SC, argued that the central issue is not whether MacInnes was a victim but whether she complained to Wilson and then altered her story. “She changed her story,” Sibtain said in his opening address. “She did so to ensure her career as an actress and musician progressed by appeasing Ghost.” He also argued that MacInnes’ reputation hasn’t suffered any harm as a result of the social media posts.
The Deb director denied mistreating MacInnes and Ghost while working with them on the film, labelling accusations of private and public bullying as “absolute nonsense”. Wilson had smiled as she entered the courthouse but appeared more guarded when she got into the witness box.
The trial continues.
