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Rebel Wilson cleared of defaming an actor
who starred in her directorial debut
[July 23, 2026]
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An Australian court has cleared Rebel
Wilson of defaming the star of her directorial debut, “The Deb,” in
social media posts.
Charlotte MacInnes alleged Wilson defamed her or breached her confidence
in four social media posts from September 2024 to July 2025 by falsely
suggesting she had withdrawn a sexual harassment complaint against one
of the film’s producers to advance her career. |
Rebel Wilson arrives at the premiere of "Young Woman and the Sea" on
Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP,File) |
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MacInnes denied ever making such a complaint but Justice
Elizabeth Raper of the Federal Court of Australia ruled
Wednesday that none of Wilson’s posts were defamatory.
The dispute stemmed from an incident in September 2023 when
MacInnes and the producer went swimming at Sydney’s Bondi Beach
before later sharing a bath at the apartment where they were
staying. Wilson later said on Instagram that MacInnes told her
the next day that the producer had asked her to bathe and shower
with her, making her feel uncomfortable, but that MacInnes later
retracted the complaint.
Raper ruled that MacInnes failed to prove Wilson’s posts caused
serious harm to her reputation or that Wilson breached her
confidence. She dismissed the case and ordered MacInnes to pay
costs, according to a written judgement provided by the court.
Wilson, who starred in the “Pitch Perfect” films and
“Bridesmaids,” thanked the judge and Australia’s legal system in
an Instagram post, calling the ruling a “substantial win” and
saying she looked forward to moving on.
MacInnes’ legal representatives did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
“The Deb,” a musical comedy about two teenage girls preparing
for a debutante ball in a small rural town, is reportedly set
for a U.S. digital release on Aug. 25.
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