Charlotte MacInnes took the stand in a Sydney federal court on Monday to sue Rebel Wilson for defamation, alleging the actor and filmmaker used social media to paint her as a liar who fabricated a sexual harassment claim against a film producer for personal gain.
The case centers on events from September 2023, when MacInnes and producer Amanda Ghost swam at Bondi Beach, after which Ghost developed a severe reaction to cold water — later diagnosed as cold urticaria — leaving her shaking and covered in hives. MacInnes helped Ghost back to their shared accommodation and ran a bath to warm her up. Both women, still in swimsuits, entered the large tub together while a third person brought tea and spoke with them. Wilson joined the conversation via speakerphone.
The next day, according to testimony, MacInnes and Wilson spoke on a couch at the film’s set. Their accounts of that conversation diverge sharply. MacInnes’ legal team says she told Wilson the bathing incident had not made her uncomfortable. Wilson’s barrister claims MacInnes expressed concern about Ghost’s behavior during the soak.
This disagreement forms the crux of the defamation suit. MacInnes alleges Wilson later used this discrepancy to suggest she had invented or exaggerated a harassment claim — and then changed her story after receiving career opportunities from Ghost, including a role in a stage production of *The Great Gatsby* and a record deal.
Wilson’s legal team denies the allegations, insisting that MacInnes only withdrew her initial complaint after deciding to support Ghost. They argue the core issue is whether MacInnes ever told Wilson she felt uneasy during the bath and whether she later altered her account for professional advantage.
Outside the courtroom, the dispute has taken on a public dimension. Wilson’s barrister accused her of hiring a private investigator and spreading false claims online to portray MacInnes as a “money grabbing opportunist.” In response, MacInnes’ counsel labeled Wilson a “bully,” citing specific Instagram posts from September 2024 in which Wilson suggested MacInnes had revised her story after gaining industry favors.
Adding complexity, the court heard that Wilson had taken out a defamation insurance policy in March 2024, a move her opponent’s lawyer said enabled her to “go ballistic” about Ghost and other producers online. Wilson’s team has not addressed this claim directly in public filings.
The legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of *The Deb*, Wilson’s directorial debut — a musical comedy set in the Australian outback about teens preparing for a debutante ball. The film premiered in Australian theaters this month but remains without a U.S. Distributor. Its release has been overshadowed by the trans-Pacific litigation, which is being heard in Sydney and involves parallel discussions in Los Angeles.
Justice Elizabeth Raper is presiding over the nine-day trial, which is being streamed live on YouTube. The outcome could influence how allegations of on-set misconduct are weighed when tangled with professional rivalries and public statements made via social media.
What exactly is Charlotte MacInnes accusing Rebel Wilson of?
MacInnes claims Wilson defamed her through social media posts suggesting she lied about being sexually harassed by producer Amanda Ghost and later changed her story to gain career advantages.
How does Rebel Wilson defend herself against these allegations?
Wilson’s legal team argues MacInnes only withdrew her harassment complaint after choosing to support Ghost and that the core dispute is whether MacInnes ever said the bathing incident made her uncomfortable.
