Court hears claims Rebel Wilson ‘made up allegations’ in dispute with Charlotte MacInnes

Closing arguments in Sydney court highlight conflicting testimony and claims of reputational harm to actors involved

Rebel Wilson has been at the centre of a heated defamation trial in the Federal Court in Sydney, where she is being sued by actor Charlotte MacInnes over social media posts linked to the musical comedy The Deb. The case has drawn intense scrutiny as lawyers on both sides delivered sharply contrasting accounts of events during the production of the film, which Wilson directed, co-produced and starred in.

MacInnes, who played the lead role in the film, claims that Wilson published statements suggesting she had made and then withdrawn a complaint about feeling uncomfortable during an incident involving co-producer Amanda Ghost. MacInnes denies ever making such a complaint or retracting one, and has maintained that she was not distressed during the situation in question.

In court, MacInnes’s barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC described Wilson’s account as a “complete revision of history”, alleging that the actor had constructed a false narrative and made serious allegations about multiple people involved in the production. The court was told that Wilson’s version of events was inconsistent with testimony given by other witnesses, including producer Greer Simpkin, who disputed Wilson’s timeline regarding when she first heard of any alleged complaint.

The trial has also examined a bathroom incident involving MacInnes and Ghost after a medical episode on set. The court heard evidence that the situation was not inappropriate and that those present did not perceive any misconduct or discomfort at the time. MacInnes’s legal team argued that Wilson later mischaracterised the event in communications that contributed to reputational damage.

Chrysanthou further told the court that MacInnes had suffered significant personal and professional harm following the publication of Wilson’s posts, stating that she had experienced distress and anxiety and had been unable to work since the controversy escalated. She argued that the public nature of the allegations had placed the young actor under severe pressure and scrutiny.

Wilson, however, has strongly rejected the claims, maintaining that her statements were based on her understanding of events during production. Her legal team has argued that MacInnes has continued to secure professional opportunities, including a stage role and a recording deal, which they say contradict claims of lasting reputational damage.

The court was also told that Wilson believed MacInnes had been linked to information leaks during production, an allegation that forms part of the broader dispute over trust and conduct on set. Evidence presented included messages and accounts that Wilson says supported her concerns, while MacInnes’s representatives argue these interpretations are misleading.