Rebel Wilson has strongly denied accusations of bullying and running smear campaigns as a high profile legal battle tied to her directorial debut The Deb continues in court. The dispute centers on a defamation lawsuit filed by actress Charlotte MacInnes, who stars in the film. MacInnes alleges that Wilson damaged her reputation by making claims about alleged inappropriate behavior involving producer Amanda Ghost and then mishandling the situation.
Wilson, giving evidence in an Australian court, rejected the accusations outright. She described claims that she bullied MacInnes, Ghost, and writer Hannah Reilly as “absolute nonsense,” insisting that her career shows consistent support for women.
At the heart of the case is a 2023 incident in Sydney. Wilson claims that MacInnes confided in her about feeling uncomfortable after sharing a bath with Ghost following a day at Bondi Beach. According to Wilson, MacInnes later changed her position after being offered career opportunities.
MacInnes disputes this version of events and argues that Wilson’s public statements harmed her credibility.
The case has grown more complicated with allegations that Wilson was involved in creating anonymous websites targeting Ghost with damaging claims. Lawyers for MacInnes argue that a publicist linked to Wilson helped orchestrate the content.
Wilson has firmly denied any involvement. She told the court she had “unequivocally” no role in creating or directing the websites and said her legal team hired outside PR support without her involvement in such actions.
However, testimony from a former publicist suggested that detailed instructions for the websites existed, with metadata linking documents to Wilson’s production company. When questioned about this, Wilson said she could not explain the connection.
The legal battle is unfolding across multiple jurisdictions, including Australia and the United States, and has overshadowed the release of The Deb, a coming of age story about outback teens preparing for a debutante ball.
Despite the controversy, Wilson continues to maintain that the central issue is whether MacInnes initially raised concerns with her, not the surrounding allegations about PR tactics.
With the trial ongoing, the case is shaping into a major industry dispute involving reputation, workplace conduct, and the blurred lines between legal strategy and public image management.