Rebel Wilson has won a defamation case brought by her co-star Charlotte MacInnes over Instagram posts about a sexual harassment complaint. Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the claim and ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson's legal costs.
Background of the case
MacInnes, 28, sued Wilson, 46, over posts shared in 2024 and 2025 that allegedly harmed her reputation. The two worked together on The Deb, a musical comedy written and directed by Wilson, in which MacInnes played a leading role. After the film's release, Wilson accused MacInnes of retracting a sexual harassment complaint against one of the film's producers to further her career. MacInnes denied this and launched legal action.
Court ruling
On Wednesday, Justice Raper said implying the story had changed was not defamatory. She remarked on the incident that led to the posts: 'To say that the circumstances surrounding how they came to be in the bath are unusual would be an understatement.' Raper added that MacInnes had failed to establish how Wilson's posts caused or were likely to cause serious harm.
Incident details
The issue stemmed from September 2023, when MacInnes went swimming at Bondi Beach with producer Amanda Ghost. Ghost had an allergic reaction to cold water, so they returned to her rented apartment. MacInnes ran a bath for Ghost while she showered, then got in herself to warm up. Ghost joined her shortly after, both wearing swimsuits.
Wilson's account
During the three-week trial, Wilson said MacInnes approached her the day after the incident, saying she 'felt uncomfortable'. They had a follow-up call to discuss Wilson's concerns. Wilson then texted Ghost: 'It was all good' and MacInnes 'just meant it was a bizarre situation, not that she felt personally uncomfortable'. Ghost replied: 'Oh thank f for that. OMG. That's hilarious. I nearly died.' Wilson responded: 'She was instantly like, “Oh no, zero issues at all.” But she said she was happy I called to clarify.'
Confronted with these texts, Wilson said she was 'trying to maintain professional communication' with the producer, who was also 'access' to the finances, but stated she also felt 'uneasy' about the situation.
MacInnes' allegations
MacInnes branded the allegations 'malicious concoctions' and claimed Wilson had ordered a smear campaign against her, which Wilson denied.
Wilson's statement
On Instagram after the verdict, Wilson wrote: 'This process has taught me a lot. 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.' She concluded: 'I'm grateful this chapter has reached its conclusion and I'm looking forward to getting back to what I love most, my family and my work. Thank you to the Judge and the Australian legal system who I have the utmost respect for.'
