Rebel Wilson Calls Bullying Claims 'Absolute Nonsense' in Sydney Defamation Trial
Rebel Wilson took the stand at a Sydney federal court on Monday and flatly denied claims that she bullied and harassed multiple women during the production of her directorial debut, calling the allegations "absolute nonsense." The Australian actress is being sued for defamation by Charlotte MacInnes, a 26-year-old West Australian actress who co-starred in the film.
What the Case Is About
The dispute centers on a series of Instagram posts Wilson made to her 11 million followers in 2024. MacInnes claims Wilson's posts were defamatory because they implied she had filed a sexual harassment complaint during the filming of the musical comedy The Deb and then withdrew it to protect her budding entertainment career. Wilson, who co-stars and directed the film, argues that MacInnes genuinely made such a complaint to her in September 2023 and that her posts were truthful.
Wilson's Instagram posts described an incident involving a bath that MacInnes allegedly shared with the film's co-producer Amanda Ghost at a Bondi Beach apartment. According to Wilson, MacInnes complained to her about Ghost's conduct the following day. MacInnes denies ever making such a complaint, saying the allegations were invented as leverage after Wilson's relationship with Ghost broke down over a financial dispute.
Wilson's Denials on the Stand
Under cross-examination by MacInnes's barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC, Wilson denied a series of specific accusations. When Chrysanthou suggested Wilson had "bullied and harassed" MacInnes, Wilson replied, "That's absolute nonsense." She gave the same response when accused of bullying Ghost and said of the broader claim: "If you look over my 25-year career, you can see many evidences of me supporting women."
She denied sending a text message about one of the film's co-writers, Hannah Reilly, that allegedly said she should "go f*** herself," and denied she hated Reilly, though she acknowledged a dispute with Reilly over writing credits. Reilly wrote the original stage musical on which the film was based.
Wilson also denied that a letter sent by her American lawyer Bryan Freedman in June 2024 reflected her wishes. The letter alleged that Ghost and a man named Gregor had forced MacInnes to stay in their apartment and "comply with their depraved sexual demands." When asked whether she had ever apologized to Ghost or her husband for the letter, Wilson said no. She said she had no memory of approving those particular words.
The Website and Embezzlement Claims
The court heard that a website was created in August 2024 by a PR firm Wilson had used, describing Ghost as a "madam" who "procured young women for the pleasure of the extremely wealthy" and referring to her as the "Indian Ghislaine Maxwell." Wilson denied instructing the firm to build the website.
Chrysanthou also challenged Wilson's claim that Ghost's husband had embezzled $900,000 from the film's budget. Wilson maintained the claim, saying there was evidence of "dodgy" conduct and that funds had been concealed from her. Chrysanthou called the allegation a "despicable lie" with "not an iota" of evidence. Wilson denied having no evidence.
The Forgetful Fish
The trial also touched on a lighter but pointed moment. Last week, Wilson's wife Ramona Agruma-Wilson posted an Instagram story featuring Dory, the forgetful fish from Finding Nemo. MacInnes told the court she believed the post was intended to mock her as an unreliable witness during the trial.
Wilson said her wife was simply referencing "pregnancy brain," as she is currently pregnant and the couple had seen several older posts referencing the pregnancy. She added that they thought it was "interesting" MacInnes assumed the post was directed at her. This kind of defamation argument over social media subtext reflects how much of the case turns on interpretation of Wilson's online activity and intent.
Where the Case Stands
MacInnes is seeking aggravated damages for the harm done to her reputation, as well as a court order preventing Wilson from repeating the allegedly defamatory claims. Wilson's attendance marked the first time she had given evidence in the trial. Her wife did not attend due to her pregnancy. The legal proceedings are expected to conclude in the coming days. The Deb was released in Australian cinemas in April 2026.
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