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Charlotte MacInnes has initiated legal action against Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson, alleging defamation through social media posts. These posts reportedly claimed that MacInnes expressed discomfort after sharing a bath with Amanda Ghost, Wilson’s co-producer on the musical film The Deb.
MacInnes contends that the posts, visible to Wilson’s 11 million followers for an entire day, insinuated she had retracted her complaint in exchange for lucrative acting and music opportunities.
The emerging actor, who holds a leading role in The Deb, refutes the claim that she lodged any complaints with Wilson, the Bridesmaids star. MacInnes asserts that these allegations have tarnished her reputation, hindering her ability to fully capitalize on the success of her debut feature film.
However, Rebel Wilson’s lawyer, Dauid Sibtain SC, countered that MacInnes has not experienced any detriment to her career since the initial social media post emerged in September 2024.
In support of MacInnes’ thriving career, her manager, Shoshanna Stone, informed the Federal Court that MacInnes secured a record deal with Atlantic Records in late 2025.
The deal provided for two EPs and was worth around $US310,000 (around $430,000), she said.
Stone’s high-profile clients include Britney Spears, Shakira, Boy George and Alicia Keys.
She told the court she signed MacInnes to her roster after being informed of the young actor’s talent by her friend, Ghost.
The up-and-coming performer’s second single is due to be released tomorrow.
Her manager rejected suggestions it had been timed to coincide with the court battle.
MacInnes was hailed as a talented, enthusiastic and bubbly actor who has been irrevocably “hardened” by the social media posts by Hannah Reilly, the co-writer of The Deb.
In an affidavit tendered to the Federal Court, Reilly wrote MacInnes confided they had taken away some of her innocence and trust in the world.
MacInnes said she was experiencing vivid nightmares and panic attacks, and stopped eating for days at a time.
“She has expressed to me it has been an all-consuming nightmarish force in her life,” Reilly wrote.
She said she observed MacInnes become more armoured as a result of Wilson’s social media posts, which she reported left her with a constant sense of vigilance and anxiety.
Before September 2024, she had a reputation as a “bright star in the making”, Reilly wrote in her sworn statement.
She thought Wilson’s subsequent social media posts suggested MacInnes was a liar who traded sexual favours to secure a role and a record deal.
Wilson denies the posts are defamatory and maintains MacInnes made the complaint before retracting it to ensure her future as a performer by appeasing Ghost.
The Deb was released in Australia earlier in April after legal issues prevented widespread release following its 2024 film festival premiere.
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