Rebel Wilson denied she was annoyed at actress Charlotte MacInnes because she suspected her of leaking information during the making of the film The Deb in September 2023, the Federal Court heard on Wednesday.
Wilson’s co-star in the film, MacInnes, 26, is suing the Pitch Perfect star over a series of Instagram posts she alleges implies that she retracted a sexual harassment complaint against one of the film’s producers, Amanda Ghost.
MacInnes denies a sexual harassment complaint was made on September 6, 2023, and alleges Wilson only raised the complaint after she fell out with movie producer Ghost and others about The Deb’s production and budget.
The complaint is alleged to have been made after MacIness and Ghost shared a bath at a Bondi Beach apartment on September 5, 2023, to recover from a cold ocean swim.
“Do you remember being very annoyed, very annoyed with Ms MacInnes on the evening of September 5 about something to do with giving information to (The Dec writer) Hannah Reilly?” asked Sue Chrysanthou SC for MacInnes.
“No, I remember there were concerns about people leaking to information to Hannah Reilly, which had caused here to be agitated and obtain a lawyer,” replied Wilson.
“But didn’t you complain on September 5 that you had discovered that person was Charlotte McInnes?” said Ms Chrysanthou.
“I don’t recall that,” replied Wilson.
“Do you recall also at the time that you claimed to believe Charlotte McInnnes was the leak that you suggested she do fewer lines in the songs?” asked Chrysanthou.
“No I don’t remember that,” replied Wilson.
“What happened Ms Wilson is that on the evening of September 5 you were annoyed with Ms McInnes and suggested to PR Pia Ashcroft in a telephone call that some of the lines singing in songs should be given to one or more of the other girls?”
“I have no memory of that,” replied Wilson.
Wilson denies her September 2024 Instagram posts about the disputed complaint were defamatory. Wilson also claims it’s true that MacInnes made a verbal complaint to her on September 6, 2023, the day after the Bondi Beach swim that has spiralled into a two-week Federal Court trial.
The Deb movie is a musical comedy that was released in April 2026 in Australian cinemas. It’s the directorial debut of Wilson, who co-stars in it alongside MacInnes.
MacInnes is seeking aggravated damages for the lowering of her professional reputation based on Wilson’s Instagram posts, as well as a court order preventing Wilson from repeating the allegedly defamatory claims online.
Disputed movie budget
On Wednesday, Wilson also insisted British movie producer and songwriter Amanda Ghost was involved in controlling the budget during the making of the film The Deb.
Later in the morning, Ms Chrysanthou suggested to Wilson it wasn’t correct that Ghost refused to hand over a budget for The Deb movie with regard to allegations that $900,000 was embezzled from it.
“Ms Ghost was not party to the budget discussions or the contract discussions, was she?” said Ms Chrysanthou for MacInnes.
“She definitely was, she’s the chairwoman of (move production company) AI Film. She saw (British finance executive) Vince Holden as her employee so she was the boss in terms of talking about the budget,” replied Wilson.
Cannot recall being sued
On Wednesday, the Federal Court also heard Wilson didn’t recall being sued by Daily Mail journalist Elizabeth Wilson in a separate defamation case in 2016.
“In February 2016 you called (former Daily Mail journalist) Elizabeth Wilson ‘scum’ or ‘total scum’ and said she harassed or verbally abused your grandmother and you said she’s an asshole,” said Sue Chrysanthou SC for MacInnes.
Wilson told the court she could not recall details around the matter, or being sued.
“My memory is that there was just a demands letter,” Wilson said in response.
“I just remember never going to court or anything and the matter settled.”
Wilson later said it was an innocent mistake in identifying the wrong woman named Elizabeth Wilson in 2016 and she subsequently offered an apology.
The case is expected to conclude on Friday. Justice Elizabeth Raper, overseeing the case will provide a ruling at an indetermined time in the future.
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