Rebel Wilson cleared in Charlotte MacInnes defamation case
Rebel Wilson has been cleared of defaming Charlotte MacInnes after a Sydney court dismissed the young actress’s case over Instagram posts about a 2023 bath incident tied to Wilson’s film The Deb. Justice Elizabeth Raper ordered MacInnes to pay costs.
The Pitch Perfect star won the federal court fight on Wednesday, ending a bitter dispute with the lead actor from her directorial debut. For more celebrity breaking news, follow BlasterPost’s latest coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed Charlotte MacInnes’s defamation claim against Rebel Wilson.
- Wilson’s Instagram posts alleged MacInnes walked back a sexual harassment complaint to aid her career.
- The judge found MacInnes failed to prove the posts caused, or were likely to cause, serious harm.
- MacInnes was ordered to pay Wilson’s legal costs.
- Wilson thanked the judge and the Australian legal system after the ruling.
What did the court decide about Charlotte MacInnes?
According to the BBC, Raper found that the imputation MacInnes had changed her story about the Bondi Beach bath incident was not defamatory. Only that claim was made out, CNN reported, and the case was dismissed.
MacInnes also failed to establish that Wilson’s publications caused or were likely to cause serious harm, the Guardian reported. Costs were awarded against the young actress.
Why did Charlotte MacInnes sue Rebel Wilson?
MacInnes starred in Wilson’s musical comedy The Deb and sued over Instagram posts from 2024 and 2025. She said the posts implied she was a liar who withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against producer Amanda Ghost to further her career as an actor and singer.
MacInnes denied making or retracting any complaint. She and Ghost said they shared a swimsuit bath in September 2023 after Ghost had a reaction to cold water at Bondi Beach, and that nothing sexual occurred.
Wilson told the court MacInnes had said Ghost asked her to shower and bathe together and that it made her uncomfortable. Wilson said she treated that as a report she had to act on as director. MacInnes sought aggravated damages, citing anxiety and a period without work; Wilson’s side pointed to later opportunities, including a record deal linked to Ghost.
What did Rebel Wilson say after the verdict?
Moments after the decision, Wilson posted that the process had tested her and reinforced her wish to stand up for what she believes is right while creating joyful work. She called The Deb her dream job and directorial debut, thanked supporters, and said she was grateful the chapter had concluded.
She also thanked the judge and said she has “the utmost respect” for the Australian legal system. The BBC said it had contacted MacInnes for comment.
The dispute sits amid wider legal fallout around The Deb’s production, including producer claims against Wilson that are separate from this ruling. Wednesday’s result closes only the Charlotte MacInnes defamation action.