Actor Denies Claims in Rebel Wilson Defamation Case

An actor at the center of a legal dispute with Rebel Wilson has denied making false claims about an incident involving a film producer, telling a federal court she never complained about the situation described in Wilson’s social media posts.

Charlotte MacInnes, who appeared in the musical comedy The Deb, said she did not tell Wilson that she felt uncomfortable after bathing with co-producer Amanda Ghost. Wilson, who directed and co-produced the film, had posted online that MacInnes made such a complaint and later withdrew it for career opportunities, including a stage role and a record deal.

“I never made a complaint to Ms Wilson,” MacInnes told the court.

The case centers on an incident in September 2023, when Ghost suffered a medical episode at Bondi Beach. MacInnes said she helped Ghost back to an apartment, where she and another person suggested a bath to help warm her up. She described what happened as “an innocent incident” that had been misrepresented.

During questioning, Wilson’s lawyer pointed out that MacInnes initially did not mention sharing the bath with Ghost in her statement, which she later acknowledged. MacInnes rejected the claim that her earlier account was misleading.

She also denied telling Wilson that Ghost had asked her to bathe together or that it made her uncomfortable. “I never said those words,” she told the court.

MacInnes said she was distressed when Ghost stopped speaking to her after Wilson allegedly relayed the complaint. She also worried the situation could damage her career.

The court heard that Ghost had supported MacInnes professionally, offering feedback and helping her make industry connections. MacInnes said those opportunities included performing on luxury yachts and traveling on private jets.

Text messages presented in court showed some tension between MacInnes and Wilson before the incident. In May 2023, MacInnes skipped a theatre outing with Wilson and other cast members to meet Ghost instead. She later apologized by text, calling Wilson “nothing short of wonderful.”

The relationship between the two deteriorated further after Wilson’s social media posts about the alleged complaint.

The Deb was released in Australia earlier this month after delays linked to legal issues following its 2024 festival debut. The court case is ongoing.