Rebel Wilson was described as “fucking nuts” by a PR team she allegedly hired to create websites attacking a co-producer, a court has heard. The actor is being sued for defamation by Charlotte MacInnes, the lead actor of Wilson's directorial debut The Deb, over social media posts suggesting MacInnes made a sexual harassment complaint against co-producer Amanda Ghost.
MacInnes denies making the complaint and claims she has been harmed by Wilson’s insinuations that she withdrew the allegations in exchange for a lead role and a record deal. Her barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, called the claim a “malignant allegation” that MacInnes sold the complaint for professional gain.
The court was told that the claim was referenced in malicious websites created by crisis PR firm The Agency Group, which attacked Ghost and alleged she was a sex trafficker. Wilson has denied any involvement in the websites, but former employee Katie Case testified that her boss Melissa Nathan instructed her in August 2024 to create a site that could be “used as a tool to aid attorneys in ongoing litigation”.
Case said she was provided with a “fully drafted” document for the website, which metadata later revealed was created under the name of Wilson’s company. However, she accepted that anyone could have edited the document before it reached her. The court also heard that text messages between agency staff referred to Wilson as “fucking nuts”.
Wilson’s barrister, Dauid Sibtain SC, argued that the websites were a distraction from the key issue: whether MacInnes actually made a complaint to Wilson. The trial continues, with further testimony expected from co-producer Gregor Cameron.
