Rebel Wilson accused of bullying amid court battle over defamation lawsuit with 'The Deb' lead actress

Rebel Wilson has been accused of being a “bully” due to her treatment of the lead actress in The Deb, her first film as a director, which has become the focus of an extensive legal case.

The Pitch Perfect actress appeared at a Sydney courtroom on Monday, responding to a defamation case brought by Charlotte MacInnes, who also attended the hearing. 

MacInnes alleges that Wilson tarnished her reputation by claiming she faced sexual harassment from The Deb producer, Amanda Ghost, and subsequently worked with Ghost to conceal the events.

A pivotal aspect of the case involves a September 2023 event when Ghost and MacInnes shared a bath in a Sydney apartment after swimming at Bondi Beach.

Sue Chrysanthou, the lawyer representing MacInnes, detailed that Ghost experienced cold urticaria after the swim, a condition making her allergic to cold water. 

Ghost was shivering intensely and developed hives, prompting MacInnes to assist her back to the apartment where they both bathed in swimwear to warm Ghost up.

Wilson has asserted that MacInnes informed her the episode made her feel uneasy. Wilson further alleges that MacInnes retracted her complaint after receiving career advantages from Ghost.

MacInnes disputes this and has filed a lawsuit against Wilson over four Instagram posts. 

One post from September 2024 by the Bridesmaids star suggested that MacInnes altered her account after being given a role in a Gatsby theater production and securing a music contract.

Sue Chrysanthou, MacInnes' attorney, described Wilson as a “bully” for disparaging MacInnes on Instagram. 

“Ms. Wilson was not a truth-teller aiming to defend a young actress,” she stated to the court. Chrysanthou contended that Wilson used the allegations against MacInnes as “leverage” in disagreements with producers over “budgets and agreements” on The Deb.

Dauid Sibtain, representing Wilson, remarked: “The key question in this case ... is this: did Ms. MacInnes inform Ms. Wilson that Ms. Ghost had asked her to shower and bathe together, and did she express discomfort about it, then later revise her statements?”

He continued, claiming that the “numerous accolades and prospects” MacInnes gained after the bath event resulted from her choice to align with Ms. Ghost.

The court was also informed about Wilson acquiring a defamation insurance in March 2024 to enable her to “speak openly” about Ghost and other producers online, as alleged by Chrysanthou.

The The Deb conflict is unfolding on various stages in Los Angeles and Australia, casting a shadow over the uplifting movie centered on outback teenagers going to a debutante ball. 

The film made its Australian debut earlier this month, but a US distributor has yet to be secured.

The proceedings are ongoing. The trial is overseen by Justice Elizabeth Raper.