Full Breakdown
Rebel Wilson and Charlotte MacInnes Face Defamation Trial Over Bath-Incident Allegations
5/9/2026, 11:47:50 AM
Core Dispute
In the Federal Court of Australia, Charlotte MacInnes, the 27-year-old lead actress of the musical film *The Deb*, has sued director-actor Rebel Wilson for defamation. MacInnes alleges Wilson’s Instagram posts in 2024-2025 claimed she filed a sexual-harassment complaint against producer Amanda Ghost after a shared bath, then withdrew it for career advantage. MacInnes denies ever making or retracting such a complaint and says the posts have harmed her reputation.
Background and Bath Incident
The incident occurred in September 2023 at Bondi Beach. Producer Amanda Ghost suffered an allergic reaction, developing red welts and shaking. She and MacInnes returned to Ghost’s beachfront apartment; Ghost showered while MacInnes ran a bath, and Ghost later joined her. Wilson’s affidavit says MacInnes told her the situation made her uncomfortable, prompting Instagram stories that called the episode “unacceptable” and implied a harassment complaint. Wilson later texted Ghost that MacInnes had simply described the incident as “bizarre”.
Official Statements & Responses
MacInnes’s barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC described Wilson’s evidence as “littered with inconsistencies” and said her client suffers emotional distress, loss of appetite and sleep. Wilson’s affidavit maintains the posts were truthful and of concern. Wilson’s counsel, Dauid Sibtain SC, argued that MacInnes’s career has not suffered; she secured a role in a Ghost-produced stage version of *The Great Gatsby* and a record deal with Warner Music, suggesting posts were a leverage tactic.
Criticism & Opposition
Chrysanthou accused Wilson of fabricating a “complete revision of history” to sow division between Ghost and MacInnes, labeling her a “fantastical liar”. Sibtain called that allegation “preposterous”, arguing Wilson had no motive to damage her own film’s chemistry and denied any involvement in a smear website targeting Ghost.
Conflicting Evidence & Gaps
Local producer Greer Simpkin testified she first heard of any alleged complaint a week after Wilson said MacInnes reported it, contradicting Wilson’s claim of immediate disclosure. No formal complaint document has been produced, and the court has not heard from Ghost’s assistant who was present during the bath, leaving a gap in first-hand accounts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She is a fantastical liar who has made up terrible, terrible allegations about multiple people and her own witnesses have discredited her. We say Ms Wilson cannot be believed on anything she has said.” — Sue Chrysanthou SC
- “My client has been unable to eat, unable to sleep, has been distressed … (she) fears what Rebel Wilson is going to do to her next,” — Sue Chrysanthou SC
- “She’s changed her story, she’s flip-flopped and she’s been given huge benefits,” — Dauid Sibtain SC
- “I am known as a truth-teller.” — Rebel Wilson
What’s Next
Justice Elizabeth Raper will deliver a reserved judgment later. The ruling will decide whether Wilson’s Instagram posts amount to defamatory falsehoods or protected opinion. Separate lawsuits by *The Deb* producers against Wilson in Australia and the United States remain pending, potentially shaping future defamation law for public figures.
