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Rebel Wilson, known for her role in Pitch Perfect, took on multiple roles as director, co-producer, and star in The Deb, a musical comedy situated in rural New South Wales. Unfortunately, its release faced setbacks due to ongoing legal disputes.
The controversy involves a lawsuit filed by lead actress Charlotte MacInnes, who alleges that Wilson made social media posts claiming MacInnes had expressed discomfort with co-producer Amanda Ghost.
Both former co-stars are expected to present their testimonies as a nine-day hearing begins today in Sydney’s Federal Court, promising a contentious legal battle.
MacInnes refutes the claims, stating she never voiced such concerns to Wilson. She further argues that Wilson’s insinuations that she withdrew her supposed remarks in exchange for a lead role and record deal have caused her significant harm.
According to MacInnes, these social media allegations have tarnished her professional image and cast doubts on her reliability, overshadowing the excitement of her debut lead role in a film.
The posts blamed her alleged lies for blocking the film’s release and portrayed her as selfishly prioritising her own career over the hundreds of cast and crew who toiled on The Deb, according to her statement of claim.
The up-and-coming actor is seeking aggravated damages for serious harm caused as well as a court order preventing Wilson from repeating the allegedly defamatory claims online.
Wilson accepts in her defence that she uploaded a series of posts which were available to her 11 million followers for 24 hours, but denies that two of the posts were about MacInnes.
The Bridesmaid actor maintains the younger actor complained to her about being uncomfortable around Ghost and claims MacInnes was being untruthful when she denied it.
MacInnes lied to have a positive relationship with co-producers Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden, from which she derived significant career benefits, Wilson alleges.
She is set to take the stand in the second week of the Federal Court hearing, along with her pregnant wife.
The internationally acclaimed star is also facing a separate legal battle in the NSW Supreme Court brought by Ghost, Cameron and Holden over alleged breaches of contract and damaging statements.
The Deb premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 but had been blocked from wider distribution by the ongoing legal disputes.
The film was released in Australia on April 9, with some local reviews praising it as “joyous” and “filthy, fun, but most of all moving”, while another said “many moments fall flat”.
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