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Rebel Wilson defamation trial over sexual harassment claims and PR smear campaign

1 hours ago4 articles from 2 sources

Consensus Summary

The Federal Court of Australia is hearing a defamation case where actor Charlotte MacInnes sues Rebel Wilson for allegedly defaming her through social media posts claiming MacInnes withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against producer Amanda Ghost in exchange for career benefits. The dispute centers on an incident from September 5, 2023, at Bondi Beach, where Ghost experienced a medical episode and MacInnes helped her back to an apartment, where they shared a bath together. Wilson’s legal team argues MacInnes changed her story due to Ghost’s influence, while MacInnes denies ever making a complaint. The trial revealed Wilson hired a PR firm, The Agency Group, to create malicious websites accusing Ghost of being a 'sex trafficker' and the 'Indian Ghislaine Maxwell,' with internal texts showing the team referred to Wilson as 'fucking nuts' and discussed creating 'harsh' content. Wilson’s defense includes arguing the posts were true and that MacInnes’s career progression supports Ghost’s version of events. The film *The Deb*, directed by Wilson, faced delays due to legal battles and was finally released in April 2026. The trial is expected to last nine days, with key witnesses including former PR employees, Ghost’s friend, and actors involved in the production.

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • Charlotte MacInnes is suing Rebel Wilson for defamation over social media posts claiming MacInnes withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against producer Amanda Ghost in exchange for career benefits
  • The central incident involves a September 5, 2023, event at Bondi Beach where Amanda Ghost had a medical episode (cold urticaria) and MacInnes helped her back to an apartment, where they shared a bath together while both still in swimsuits
  • Rebel Wilson hired The Agency Group (TAG) PR firm in July 2024 to create websites attacking Amanda Ghost, including amandaghost.com and amandaghostsucks.com, which called her the 'Indian Ghislaine Maxwell' and accused her of sex trafficking
  • Text messages from TAG employees in August 2024 show Melissa Nathan instructing Katie Case to create a 'harsh' website, with Case replying 'Oh my god lol ok this one will be fun'
  • The film *The Deb*, directed by Rebel Wilson, was delayed for two years due to legal disputes and released in Australia in April 2026
  • Charlotte MacInnes was cast in the lead role of *The Deb* and later secured a lead role in *The Great Gatsby* stage musical and a record deal, which Wilson’s legal team argues supports Ghost’s version of events
  • Rebel Wilson’s legal defense includes arguing that MacInnes changed her story due to Ghost’s professional influence, not because of any harassment
  • The trial is taking place in the Federal Court of Australia, with Justice Elizabeth Raper presiding, and is expected to last nine days

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

The Guardian
  • Former TAG employee Katie Case testified she was provided a 'fully drafted' word document for the website, with metadata later revealing it was created under the name of Wilson’s company, though she couldn’t confirm who authored it.
  • The PR team referred to Wilson as 'fucking nuts' in internal texts.
  • Ghost’s friend Carmen Pavlovic testified that Ghost was angry and upset after Wilson claimed MacInnes made a sexual harassment complaint, and Pavlovic encouraged proper processes to address concerns.
  • Ghost’s husband and co-producer Gregor Cameron is set to testify in the trial.
  • Wilson’s email to Hannah Reilly’s agent in December 2023 was described as 'offensive,' 'aggressive,' 'irrational,' and 'abusive,' including the line 'If I was unclear about my personal feelings towards your client, I hope this email gives you some clarity.'
  • A voicemail from Jed Wallace of TAG suggested portraying Ghost as someone who hired 'hookers' for Len Blavatnik, with the line 'it’s gotta be really, really heavy and connected to something that heavy.'
  • Wilson’s Instagram post in May 2025 included a photo of MacInnes in an 'Indian outfit' on Len Blavatnik’s yacht, which MacInnes’s lawyer called culturally inappropriate.
ABC News
  • The defamation case centers on four specific social media posts by Wilson, which MacInnes alleges damaged her reputation by suggesting she lied about the harassment incident.
  • Wilson’s legal team argues MacInnes has not suffered serious reputational harm, as she continued her career at the same rate post-dispute.
  • Justice Elizabeth Raper questioned Katie Case about the 'whistleblower site,' asking if it was created to look like it had actual whistleblowers, to which Case replied 'That’s correct.'
  • The websites accused Ghost of starting *The Great Gatsby* musical 'to reward an actress for remaining silent about the abuse she suffered at Ghost’s hands.'
  • Wilson’s lawyers deny the imputations in her posts were defamatory and will defend by proving the truth of the claims.

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • The Guardian states Ghost suffered 'cold urticaria' leaving her in 'red welts and shaking uncontrollably,' while ABC does not specify the severity of her medical episode beyond it being 'severe.'
  • The Guardian describes the bath as 'so large that the two women were not touching each other,' while ABC does not mention the size of the bath, only that they were both in swimsuits.
  • The Guardian reports Wilson’s email to Hannah Reilly was 'offensive' and 'abusive,' while ABC does not provide details of the email’s content beyond its existence.
  • The Guardian includes a specific quote from Wilson’s Instagram post about MacInnes in an 'Indian outfit,' while ABC does not mention the outfit detail, only that the post was defamatory.
  • The Guardian states Wilson’s PR team referred to her as 'fucking nuts,' while ABC does not include this internal text detail.

Source Articles

GUARDIAN

Rebel Wilson labelled ‘nuts’ by PR team she allegedly hired to attack colleague, court hears

Wilson is being sued for defamation by actor Charlotte MacInnes over social media posts alleging a sexual harassment complaint Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Rebel Wilson was labelled “nuts” by a PR team she allegedly hired to create websites attacking a co-producer of her directorial debut, a court has heard. The Pitch Perfect actor directed, co-produced and acted in The Deb, a musical comedy set in rural NSW that remained unreleased for two years due to legal disp

2 hours ago
ABC

Producer on Rebel Wilson film branded 'Indian Ghislaine Maxwell', court hears

Australian actor Rebel Wilson asked her crisis communications firm to publish a website that accused a producer on her own film of being an "Indian Ghislaine Maxwell", a Sydney court hears.

4 hours ago
ABC

Rebel Wilson accused of defaming actor with sexual harassment claim

Hollywood star Rebel Wilson is being sued in the Federal Court for defamation by one of the lead actor's in her directorial debut film, The Deb.

Yesterday
GUARDIAN

Rebel Wilson accused in court of trying to paint actor as ‘money grabbing opportunist’ as defamation trial begins

Wilson denies allegations made by Charlotte MacInnes, who she claims told her about uncomfortable situation with producer Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Rebel Wilson has been accused in court of hiring a private investigator and having false information published online in order to paint another actor as a “money grabbing opportunist” who withdrew a sexual harassment allegation for financial gain. But lawyers fo

Yesterday