Three producers suing Rebel Wilson for defamation have requested a 90-day stay in the Los Angeles superior court to investigate the source of an anonymous website that accuses one of them of being an “Indian Ghislaine Maxwell”. The legal battle began in July after the Australian actor posted on Instagram alleging theft, bullying and sexual misconduct by the producers of her film The Deb.
The producers – Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden – deny the claims as “false and malicious”. In court documents, they allege Wilson fabricated the accusations in retaliation for their refusal to grant her writing and music credits on the film. Lawyers for the producers lodged a motion on Tuesday, stating that shortly after they initiated the defamation action, Wilson sent emails threatening to “very publicly ruin them”. Two days later, an anonymous website was registered, publishing “grotesque lies”, including that Ghost, who is of Indo-Trinidadian heritage, was the “Indian Ghislaine Maxwell”.
The producers are seeking targeted discovery to uncover who is behind the website, arguing there is “ample reason to believe” Wilson spread such rumours, providing evidence of “actual malice” to counter her anti-SLAPP motion. Wilson’s anti-SLAPP case, which aims to strike the defamation claims, is due to be heard on 21 November. The producers have moved to delay that hearing, requesting 90 days to conduct their investigation.
Wilson launched a countersuit in October, repeating many of the allegations. The dispute over credits was previously arbitrated by the Australian Writers’ Guild, which found in favour of writer Hannah Reilly and the producers. The guild said the arbitration was accepted by industry guilds internationally. The producers also allege Wilson fabricated claims of inappropriate behaviour against her Grimsby co-star Sacha Baron Cohen to promote her memoir.
