Hollywood actor and director Rebel Wilson has been cleared of defamation against the lead actor on her film The Deb.
Charlotte MacInnes sued Ms Wilson in the Federal Court over a series of disparaging social media posts, which accused the young actor of recanting a complaint of sexual assault to further her own career.
Live updates, reactions and contributions from ABC readers.
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 3:20pm
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 3:20pm
Rebel Wilson to focus on family, work
Ms Wilson has also issued a separate statement to the media.
“I’m grateful the Court has taken the time to carefully consider the evidence and reach its decision,” she said in the statement.
“This has been a long process and throughout I have tried to stay grounded in my values and what I believed was right. I’m thankful that process has now reached its conclusion.
“I have always believed in the importance of telling stories that reflect real experiences and give people the opportunity to see themselves represented.
“The Deb is a story I’m incredibly passionate about because it celebrates individuality, resilience and the courage to be yourself. I hope audiences will experience the story for themselves and connect with the values at its heart.
“Right now, what I’m focused on is what matters most, my family and my work.”
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:53pm
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:53pm
‘A story worth telling’
In her social media statement, Ms Wilson described The Deb as her “dream job”.
“Seeing that journey disrupted has been incredibly difficult, but I have always believed it was a story worth telling,” she said in her statement.
“I’m incredibly proud that I have continued making films, including my second film as director, GIRL GROUP, that is also pure fun and joy.
“And in MAJOR news it will co-incidentally also premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
“I am SO proud and SO excited for audiences to experience these stories.”
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:44pm
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:44pm
Rebel Wilson welcomes judgement
Rebel Wilson has commented on the outcome in the Federal Court in an Instagram post.
“This process has taught me a lot. It has tested me, but it has also reinforced something I’ve always believed,” she said in the post.
“I want to live my life standing up for what I believe is right, while continuing to create work that brings people joy.
“I’m grateful this chapter has reached its conclusion and I’m looking forward to getting back to what I love most, my family and my work.
“Thank you to the Judge and the Australian legal system who I have the utmost respect for.”
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:36pm
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:36pm
Actors not in court
Rebel Wilson and Charlotte MacInnes were not seen at court today.
They have not yet made statements in response to the judgement.
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:27pm
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:27pm
Judgement for costs
In handing down her judgement, Justice Raper said Ms MacInnes had failed to establish that the matter caused, or was likely to cause, serious harm.
Ms MacInnes will have to pay Ms Wilson’s costs.
The case has now been adjourned.
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:23pm
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:23pm
Ruling in favour of Rebel Wilson
Justice Elizabeth Raper has ruled in favour of Ms Wilson, dismissing Ms MacInnes’s application.
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:17pm
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:17pm
Hearing underway
The hearing is now underway. Justice Elizabeth Raper is delivering a summary of the matter, which will also be made available online.
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:00pm
Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 2:00pm
Judgement to be delivered
We are standing by for Justice Elizabeth Raper’s decision on the defamation case against Rebel Wilson, which was launched by The Deb star Charlotte MacInnes.
To get up to speed with the case, read our recap of the Federal Court trial.
Ms MacInnes, represented by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, denied making the complaint.
The 27-year-old claimed general and aggravated damages, arguing Ms Wilson damaged her reputation.
In handing down her judgement on Wednesday, Justice Elizabeth Raper said Ms MacInnes had failed to establish that the matter caused, or was likely to cause, serious harm.
The judge ordered Ms MacInnes’s application be dismissed and that she pay Ms Wilson’s legal costs.
Shortly after the hearing concluded, Ms Wilson posted a picture of herself on Instagram with a statement.
“This process has taught me a lot. It has tested me, but it has also reinforced something I’ve always believed,” she said in the post.
“Thank you to the judge and the Australian legal system for this substantial win today in THE DEB matter: Look forward to moving on!”
Actor Charlotte MacInnes (left) was represented by barrister Sue Chrysanthou in her defamation trial. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
‘Unusual’ bath circumstances
The actor of Pitch Perfect fame was being sued in the Federal Court by Ms MacInnes, who stars in Ms Wilson’s “fun girl-power” film The Deb.
Ms MacInnes claimed Ms Wilson defamed her in a series of social media posts from July 2024 that suggested Ms MacInnes walked back an account of sexual harassment at work in a bid to get more acting jobs.
Ms Wilson suggested in court that Ms MacInnes told her she felt “uncomfortable” when the film’s producer Amanda Ghost asked her to have a bath and shower with her.
The Deb faced legal challenges on its way to Australian cinemas. (Supplied: John Platt)
The incident occurred at Bondi Beach in 2023, and Ms Ghost, 51, gave evidence she had a severe skin reaction to the cold water after an ocean swim.
Ms MacInnes said she ended up in the bath with Ms Ghost, both women with their swimmers on, to get warm.
Ms Wilson claimed Ms MacInnes complained to her at work the next day that the incident made her feel uncomfortable, but Ms MacInnes maintains she never made a complaint.
“This is such a fun girl-power movie, the worst thing that could have fallen into my lap … was a sexual harassment complaint against a producer,” Ms Wilson said during the trial.
She denied the imputations of her posts were defamatory.
Film producer Amanda Ghost gave evidence in the trial. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
Justice Raper found Ms MacInnes did change her story about the complaint of sexual harassment on set.
However, the Federal Court judge said she did not accept that “the assertion of someone changing their story, for which there could be innumerable reasons for why they did, determined objectively by reference to community standards, is defamatory”.
Justice Raper found that while one of Ms Wilson’s social media posts in 2024 did convey an imputation about the plaintiff, it was not defamatory.
“To say that the circumstances surrounding how they came to be in the bath were unusual, would be an understatement,” she told the court.
“Ms MacInnes would have failed to establish that the matter has caused or would likely cause her reputation serious harm,” she said.
Wilson was accused of defaming MacInnes by claiming she walked back an allegation of sexual harassment in exchange for favours by a producer. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid, Abubakr)
She found Ms MacInnes would have failed to establish that the post seriously harmed her reputation.
The court also heard about a website created by Ms Wilson’s US-based PR firm that alleged Ms MacInnes was assaulted by Ms Ghost.
The website, named ‘amandaghostsucks.com’ claimed that Ms Ghost was a “Indian Ghislaine Maxwell” and that Ms MacInnes recanted her story about being sexually harassed by Ms Ghost, because the influential producer gave her further acting and singing jobs.
The Deb opened in Australia in April, following lengthy delays and separate legal battles.
The trial wrapped up in May.