Rebel Wilson Wins Defamation Case Against Charlotte MacInnes Over ‘The Deb’ Bath Dispute
Rebel Wilson has prevailed in a legal dispute brought against her by Charlotte MacInnes. The case centered on claims of defamation and breach of confidence linked to the production of the film The Deb. Justice Elizabeth Raper of the Federal Court of Australia dismissed the claims on Wednesday, ruling in favor of Wilson and ordering MacInnes to cover the associated legal costs.
The litigation stemmed from a series of Instagram posts made by Wilson between September 2024 and July 2025. MacInnes contended that these posts misrepresented her account of a 2023 incident involving producer Amanda Ghost. The dispute originated during a trip to Bondi Beach, where MacInnes and Ghost spent time in a bath while wearing swimsuits. Wilson argued that MacInnes had initially expressed discomfort about the situation before changing her account of the events.
Justice Raper found that the statements made by Wilson were not defamatory. The court concluded that an assertion suggesting someone changed their story does not inherently damage a reputation. Furthermore, the judge determined that Wilson established the truth of the situation, noting that the evidence from both MacInnes and Ghost appeared inconsistent and unreliable.
The court found no evidence that the posts caused serious professional harm to MacInnes. Records indicated that MacInnes successfully signed a recording contract and released music during the period in question. Additionally, the breach-of-confidence claim failed because MacInnes did not establish that she had reported sexual harassment to Wilson, which was the core of her allegation.
Wilson expressed relief following the ruling, stating she remains focused on her family and her work. She thanked the Australian legal system and reaffirmed her commitment to the values represented by the film. The judgment specifically addressed this case against Wilson, while other separate legal matters involving the producers of the film continue.