Actress Accuses Rebel Wilson of Defamation in Escalating Dispute

One of the stars of Rebel Wilson's filmmaking debut, The Deb, has hit Wilson with a legal complaint on Thursday, August 7.

Actress Charlotte MacInnes’ legal team sent Wilson, 45, a Concerns Notice, signaling their intent to pursue a defamation lawsuit in Australia. The Pitch Perfect star has 28 days to issue a correction or apology before the legal proceedings can officially move forward.

In the document, per People, the actress alleges that Wilson defamed her by claiming she was sexually harassed by The Deb producer Amanda Ghost.

The document also states that MacInnes consistently denied any misconduct had taken place. In response, Wilson allegedly suggested that MacInnes "changed her story" to maintain a working relationship with the producer; pointing to the actress later signing a record deal and being cast in Ghost’s production of Gatsby.

The legal notice details the damage done to MacInnes, including claims that Wilson used her large Instagram following of 11 million to inflict significant reputational harm.

This isn't the first time Wilson's directorial debut has been in the headlines due to controversy. There is currently a larger legal dispute surrounding the Australian comedian and several producers on The Deb. Wilson accused The Deb's producers—Ghost, Gregor Cameron, and Vince Holden—of misconduct in a series of social media posts last year. She also alleged that the trio had deliberately tried to derail the release of the project.

The three producers then filed a defamation suit against Wilson for these claims, to which the Bride Hard star fired back with her own countersuit. It was in Wilson's complaint that she alleged that Ghost had sexually harassed lead actress MacInnes.

A separate hearing is set for August 8 in Australia’s Supreme Court of New South Wales, involving a business dispute between Wilson and The Deb's UK producers, AI Films. The lawsuit claims that Wilson deliberately sabotaged the film’s release in Australia, causing both financial and reputational damage to the company.

The Deb first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2024. The Australian musical has yet to be released internationally, due to the ongoing legal battles.