Charlotte MacInnes appeals Rebel Wilson court victory, says actress gave false evidence

The Deb actress Charlotte MacInnes has formally appealed the Australian court ruling that cleared Rebel Wilson in their high-profile defamation battle, arguing the trial judge made significant legal errors and alleging Wilson gave false evidence during the proceedings.

The appeal follows last week's Federal Court decision in Sydney, where Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed MacInnes' defamation claim against Wilson and ordered the actress to pay Wilson's legal costs. The case centred on a series of Instagram posts in which Wilson suggested MacInnes had complained about feeling uncomfortable during an incident involving producer Amanda Ghost before later changing her account. MacInnes denied ever making such a complaint and argued the posts damaged her reputation.

According to appeal documents obtained by Australian media, MacInnes is challenging nearly every aspect of the judgment. Her legal team argues the court underestimated the reputational harm caused by Wilson's posts and wrongly accepted Wilson's defence that the statements were substantially true.

The appeal also makes serious allegations against Wilson, claiming she gave false evidence on several issues during the trial, including matters relating to document destruction, the creation of allegedly defamatory websites and a statutory declaration. MacInnes further argues she was denied procedural fairness because some findings were made without giving her adequate notice or an opportunity to respond.

The original lawsuit arose from events during the production of Wilson's directorial debut, The Deb. A central point of dispute involved an incident in September 2023 in which MacInnes and producer Amanda Ghost shared a bath after swimming at Sydney's Bondi Beach. Wilson later claimed MacInnes had privately told her the experience made her uncomfortable before subsequently changing her story, an allegation MacInnes has consistently denied.

MacInnes is asking the Federal Court to overturn the ruling, order a new trial or deliver judgment in her favour. Wilson has not publicly responded to the appeal, though she previously welcomed last week's decision, calling it a "substantial win" and saying she was grateful the legal chapter had come to an end.