An Australian federal court has ruled that Rebel Wilson did not defame the lead actress of her directorial debut film, “The Deb,” through a series of social media posts.
The actress who starred in the film, Charlotte MacInnes, had claimed Wilson defamed her or violated her confidence through four social media posts made between September 2024 and July 2025. MacInnes alleged the posts falsely implied she had dropped a sexual harassment complaint against one of the film’s producers in order to benefit her own career.
MacInnes denied ever filing such a complaint. However, Justice Elizabeth Raper of the Federal Court of Australia handed down a ruling Wednesday finding that none of Wilson’s posts met the legal standard for defamation.
The conflict originated from an incident in September 2023, when MacInnes and the producer went swimming together at Bondi Beach in Sydney, then later shared a bath at the apartment where they were staying. Wilson subsequently posted on Instagram that MacInnes had told her the following day that the producer had asked her to bathe and shower together, leaving her feeling uncomfortable — but that MacInnes had later walked back the complaint.
Justice Raper determined that MacInnes had not demonstrated Wilson’s posts caused serious damage to her reputation, nor that Wilson had improperly disclosed confidential information. The judge dismissed the lawsuit entirely and directed MacInnes to pay the legal costs, according to a written judgment released by the court.
Wilson, widely known for her roles in the “Pitch Perfect” franchise and “Bridesmaids,” responded to the verdict on Instagram, thanking the judge and Australia’s legal system. She described the outcome as a “substantial win” and expressed her desire to move forward.
Representatives for MacInnes had not responded to requests for comment at the time of this report.
“The Deb,” described as a musical comedy following two teenage girls as they prepare for a debutante ball in a small rural town, is reportedly scheduled for a digital release in the United States on August 25.
