Rebel Wilson has been cleared of defaming a young actress who starred in her film The Deb
Rebel Wilson cleared of defamation accusations
Rebel Wilson – the star of Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect and The Deb – has been found not to have defamed Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes by a Sydney court.
MacInnes, who appeared in Wilson’s Australian film, sued the Hollywood actress for allegedly damaging her reputation with two Instagram posts in 2024 and 2025. Wilson claimed in those posts that MacInnes had “retracted” a sexual‑harassment complaint she had made against a producer, suggesting she had changed her story to advance her career.
In the Friday hearing, Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the case, stating that the claim that MacInnes altered her allegations was not defamatory. The judge also found no evidence that the posts had caused or were likely to cause significant harm to MacInnes, and ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson a sum covering her legal costs.
The dispute dates back to September 2023, when MacInnes and producer Amanda Ghost went for a swim at Bondi Beach and later returned to Ghost’s apartment, where the pair reportedly had a bath together. Wilson’s posts centred on this incident, describing it as “bizarre” and claiming that Ghost had made MacInnes feel uncomfortable.
Wilson was quick to respond after the court’s decision, posting on Instagram that the “process has taught me a lot” and expressing gratitude for her supporters and the “Australian legal system” that she respects.
MacInnes’s legal team labelled Wilson’s allegations “malicious concoctions” and highlighted that the film star had previously accused her of bullying women on set – claims Wilson has denied. The court’s ruling therefore also denies MacInnes the collapse of her career or reputation that she had suggested might have occurred.
The case was noteworthy for its high‑profile participants and the unusual nature of the alleged incident. The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the stringent requirements for an allegation to be considered defamatory in Australian law.
