Rebel Wilson has appeared in court for the start of a defamation trial brought against her by another actress who starred in her directorial debut.
Charlotte MacInnes, the lead actress in Wilson’s film The Deb, has made allegations against the star linked to a series of posts on social media.
MacInnes claims Wilson falsely suggested in Instagram posts that she had privately confided in her about being sexually harassed by one of the film’s producers.
Charlotte MacInnes is suing Wilson for defamation. Pic: Reuters
Court filings in Australia allege Wilson, star of films including Bridesmaids and the three Pitch Perfect movies, shared the claims despite knowing no complaint had been made and did not seek verification from MacInnes.
The posts on Wilson’s Instagram account allegedly implied MacInnes lied when she denied discussing harassment or inappropriate behaviour by producers on The Deb.
Wilson has denied the claims.
MacInnes, who was also in court in Sydney for the start of the hearing, is seeking aggravated damages and a court order preventing Wilson from repeating the allegations online or elsewhere.
The Deb premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, but faced delays to its Australian theatrical release earlier in April due to the legal issues.
“I love The Deb, I mean, it’s so cute and amazing,” Wilson told reporters outside the court as she arrived for the first day of the hearing. “Thank you to everyone who’s going to the cinemas.”
The hearing is expected to last nine days.