Rebel Wilson Defamation Trial Reveals Alleged PR Smear Campaign Against Producer

A defamation trial involving actor and director Rebel Wilson has brought new allegations to light in Sydney’s Federal Court, as disputes surrounding her film The Deb continue to expand across multiple legal cases.

During proceedings on April 21, 2026, the court heard testimony from Katie Case, a former employee of crisis PR firm The Agency Group. Case described internal communications from August 2024 in which the firm’s founder, Melissa Nathan, allegedly said Wilson wanted a website created to target the film’s producer, Amanda Ghost.

According to the testimony, staff at the firm discussed the request in private messages and used derogatory language when referring to Wilson. The court was told that a website titled “Amanda Ghost is a Destroyer of Worlds” was subsequently created. The site allegedly included serious accusations against Ghost, including claims that she engaged in misconduct involving powerful individuals.

Wilson has denied any involvement in creating or directing such a campaign. However, lawyers presented metadata from a document linked to the website, which they claim connects it to Wilson’s production company. Her legal team argued that this evidence does not prove she personally authorized or participated in the effort.

The Australian case is one of several ongoing legal disputes tied to The Deb. Actor Charlotte MacInnes, who stars in the film, is suing Wilson for defamation. MacInnes alleges that Wilson falsely claimed she had been sexually harassed by Ghost and later changed her story for professional reasons.

In the United States, Ghost and other producers have filed a separate defamation lawsuit against Wilson. They claim she made false accusations of embezzlement and misconduct after disagreements over writing credits. Wilson has responded with a cross-complaint, alleging that sexual harassment and financial wrongdoing did occur during the film’s production.

A central point in the disputes is an incident in September 2023, when Ghost and MacInnes shared a bath following what was described as a medical episode. Wilson has said MacInnes later told her she felt uncomfortable. MacInnes disputes this, stating she was only assisting a colleague and did not view the situation as inappropriate.

Wilson’s legal team maintains that the key issue in the Australian trial is whether MacInnes made any complaint to Wilson at the time, rather than the later handling of the situation.

The trial is ongoing, with Wilson and her wife, Ramona Agruma, expected to testify. Meanwhile, The Deb was released in Australia on April 9, 2026, despite the unresolved legal conflicts surrounding its production.