Rebel Wilson’s legal showdown against Charlotte MacInnes has gotten off to a roaring start.
The Federal Court in Sydney is currently hearing a case involving allegations made by Wilson about her “The Deb’ co-star, Amanda Ghost, including that she sexually harassed MacInnes.
In the opening arguments, Wilson was accused of also working to get her claims out in the public domain. MacInnes’ legal staff alleged that the actress used public relations channels to spread and reinforce damaging narratives.
Rebel Wilson faces a PR Smear claim in court
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Rebel Wilson was set to make her directorial début with “The Deb” but the moment has been overshadowed due to mounting legal troubles.
The “Pitch Perfect’ star appeared in court Monday, April 20 as the proceedings officially started in the defamation suit filed by her costar. Wilson was initially referred to as a “bully”. MacInnes’ attorneys have responded with an even more explosive claim: that she engaged in a crisis PR campaign to spread damaging narratives outside the set.
Deadline reported that Wilson is accused of hiring Melissa Nathan, a publicist from The Agency Group, to orchestrate an smear against Ghost producer.
Wilson accuses co-star of backtracking on harassment claim
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Wilson’s problems with MacInnes stem from an incident when the younger actress expressed concerns about a conversation she had with Ghost, a producer.
The incident in question is said to have taken place in 2023, following a trip to Bondi Beach where MacInnes was said to have bathed with Ghost in their swimsuits.
Wilson claimed on Instagram later that MacInnes had initially expressed discomfort about the situation, before reversing her stance. The “Pitch Perfect’ star went on to suggest that her co-star changed her account because she received professional opportunities from her producer.
“The fact that she was given a record company and a lead role in a production called GATSBY by this ‘producer,’ should be enough proof to show why she changed her story,” Wilson wrote on a post in 2024.
Charlotte MacInnes said Rebel Wilson’s claims ‘damaged’ her reputation
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According to an ABC News Australia report, MacInnes’ legal team argued that Wilson’s claims had caused serious reputational damage.
Sue Chrysanthou, SC, representing MacInnes, disputed Wilson’s story, telling the court the younger actress had only gone home with Ghost when she suffered a medical incident while swimming and needed assistance to run a warm bath.
Chrysanthou argued Wilson’s public accusations painted a deeply damaging story, one that went beyond a private dispute and into reputational terrain that could impact MacInnes’ career.
She also alleged that “Pitch Perfect’s” star tried to reinforce this narrative by contacting third-parties to publish anonymous statements that reflected negatively on their client.
Charlotte MacInnes Defamation Claims Refuted by Rebel Wilson’s Attorney
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Wilson’s legal team has reacted to MacInnes’ accusations, arguing that Wilson’s concerns were valid no matter how the situation unfolded.
Wilson’s lawyer, David Sibtain SC told the court that, even if Ghost experienced a medical incident, it wouldn’t negate the possibility MacInnes felt uncomfortable at the time.
He then framed the case around Wilson’s understanding of the events, rather than what happened inside the Bondi apartment. He stressed that the key issue is whether Wilson believed misconduct had occurred and acted accordingly.
Sibtain believes that the focus shouldn’t be on proving sexual abuse, but rather on whether Wilson acted on the information she was given when she raised her concerns about the producer.
The lawyer said her accuser had ‘incentives’ to change story
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Wilson’s defence team also reaffirmed that MacInnes changed her story of the alleged event, arguing that there were clear motives behind the change.
Sibtain cited the influence of the industry and MacInnes’s position in it, suggesting that she may have felt under pressure to change her opinion.
“It is Ms. Wilson’s position that Ms. Ghost changed her story, because she was a powerful woman who expressed an early interest in Ms. MacInnes professionally,” he said. “She had the ability to make her dreams a reality.”
Sibtain pushed back further against claims that Wilson’s statements had caused lasting damage, rejecting the notion that MacInnes’ career had been derailed.
The Blast first published The Rebel Wilson Used PR team To Smear CoStar.