Rebel Wilson accused of sharing ‘malicious concoctions’ about actress, court hears

Rebel Wilson has appeared in court for the first day of a defamation case brought against her by Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes.

MacInnes filed a lawsuit against Wilson over social media posts which she claims defamed her. Wilson claimed in 2024 and 2025 on Instagram that MacInnes had complained about sharing a bath with a female producer, but retracted the complaint to further her career.

Macinnes, who is also a singer, has denied ever making a complaint against the producer. Her lawyers allege Wilson used it as “leverage” in a dispute about her film The Deb’s contracts and finances.

Court shown text messages

During the first day of the case on 20 April, a Sydney court was shown text messages between Wilson, MacInnes and movie producer Amanda Ghost.

The bath incident happened on 5 September, 2023. MacInnes and Ghost had been for a swim at Bondi Beach, before Ghost had an allergic reaction to the water.

The duo returned to Ghost’s apartment, with MacInnes running a bath for Ghost, who was trying to warm up.

According to MacInnes’ legal team, the two later got into the “oversized” bathtub, while wearing swimsuits.

Sue Chrysanthou SC told the court the “were not even touching at all”.

According to Wilson, she spoke to MacInnes about it the next day, and raised it with Ghost after MacInnes said she’d felt uncomfortable.

However a few days later, MacInnes told Wilson that wasn’t what she’d said, Chrysanthou said.

Wilson sent Ghost a text message that read: “Charlotte says all good. She just meant ‘it was a bizarre situation’ not that she personally felt uncomfortable.”

Chrysanthou said that the allegations that MacInnes was sexually harassed by Ghost and then retracted her complaint to advance her career are “completely false, fantasy, malicious concoctions”.

Rebel Wilson’s claim

Wilson’s lawyer Dauid Sibtain said that MacInnes lied by denying the complaint “to ensure that her career as an actress and musician progressed by appeasing Ms Ghost”.

He said: “She’s suffered no harm to her reputation, indeed, her career has progressed.”

Sibtain noted that since the incident, MacInnes has starred in a US theatre production and is releasing music.

“All of these wealth of prizes and opportunities that have materialised has come, we would suggest, because Ms MacInnes decided to tie herself to Ms Ghost’s version,” he said.

The trial is expected to continue for nine days.