Following a heated international legal battle that has captured headlines for years, Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has been cleared of defamation allegations made by her co-star through a series of social media exchanges.
Wilson, renowned for her role in the Pitch Perfect franchise, faced a lawsuit from fellow Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes. MacInnes claimed defamation after starring in Wilson’s directorial debut film, The Deb.
According to MacInnes, Wilson’s social media posts suggested she had compromised her integrity by retracting a sexual harassment claim for career advancement, labeling her as deceitful and opportunistic.
These online accusations purported that MacInnes had initially confided in Wilson about feeling uneasy after the film’s co-producer, Amanda Ghost, allegedly proposed they share a shower and bath.
However, MacInnes refuted these allegations, stating she neither filed nor withdrew a complaint. She maintained that her comfort was not threatened when she and Ghost bathed together—in swimwear—tied to Ghost’s medical emergency back in September 2023.
Two months after the conclusion of the hotly contested court fight in the Federal Court, Justice Elizabeth Raper found in favour of Wilson on Wednesday.
“MacInnes has failed to establish that the publications have caused or were likely to cause serious harm,” she said.
MacInnes’ barrister Sue Chrysanthou accused Wilson of a “complete revision of history” littered with dishonesty during her emphatic closing address in May.
“She is a fantastical liar who has made up terrible, terrible allegations about multiple people and her own witnesses have discredited her,” she said.
“We say Ms Wilson cannot be believed on anything she has said.”
But Wilson repeatedly denied accusations she fabricated the complaint or raised it for leverage during disputes with her co-producers over the film’s budget and writing credit.
“I am known as a truth-teller,” she declared during the hearing.
That was what she had been doing when she posted the stories to her 11 million followers, the Bridesmaids star said.
“I don’t classify it as an attack, I classify it as telling the truth,” she told the court.
Her barrister, Dauid Sibtain, said his client had “no motive to lie” about something that would endanger her film by driving a wedge between her lead actor and a producer.
Instead, he accused MacInnes of dishonestly withdrawing the complaint about Ghost to ensure her relationship with the producer continued to be fruitful.
MacInnes had received a lead role in a stage production and a six-figure record deal that were linked to Ms Ghost, he argued, and she wanted to ensure she continued to rise.
“Ms MacInnes is someone who gave false evidence under oath,” he said.
“(She) has suffered no harm, let alone serious harm.”
The young actor sought aggravated damages for the harm allegedly wrought by the posts, including anxiety and a period without work.