Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson has been accused of a “complete revision of history” during closing submissions in a Sydney defamation trial, per bbc.com.
The case, brought by young Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes, centres on social media posts from 2024 and 2025 in which Wilson alleged MacInnes retracted a sexual harassment complaint against a film producer in exchange for professional favours.
The legal dispute originated during the production of Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb. Wilson claimed MacInnes expressed discomfort after sharing a bath with producer Amanda Ghost in September 2023. While MacInnes admitted to the incident, she maintained it occurred while she was helping Ghost through a medical emergency following an allergic reaction at Bondi Beach.
Counsel for MacInnes, Sue Chrysanthou SC, told the court on Friday that Wilson’s allegations were “malicious concoctions” and “defied logic.” She characterised Wilson as a “fantastical liar” who used the incident as leverage during financial negotiations with the film’s producers. MacInnes, who denies ever filing a harassment complaint, is seeking aggravated damages for significant reputational harm.
Wilson’s defence argued that the actress’s account was credible and that MacInnes’s career had “flourished” since the incident. Barrister Dauid Sibtain SC suggested MacInnes altered her narrative to secure professional benefits, noting she later signed a major record deal and secured further acting roles through Ghost.
The three-week trial also touched on allegations that Wilson commissioned a “smear website” to target Ghost and bullied female staff on set, claims Wilson dismissed as “absolute nonsense.” Justice Elizabeth Raper has reserved her decision.
This case is one of three legal battles Wilson is currently fighting regarding The Deb. She faces separate litigation in both Australia and the United States brought by the film’s producers, including Amanda Ghost, following public disputes over the project’s management and credits.
•Featured image: Rebel Wilson/Reuters
