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Justice Elizabeth Raper of the Sydney court dismissed the defamation lawsuit brought by Charlotte MacInnes against Rebel Wilson on July 22, 2026. The judge concluded that the Instagram posts did not defame MacInnes and that the young actress had not proven the posts caused or were likely to cause serious harm to her reputation. Raper ordered MacInnes to pay the costs of the case, which had gone to a three-week trial earlier in the year.
The litigation arose from Wilson’s social media activity in 2024 and 2025, in which she alleged that MacInnes had retracted a complaint of sexual harassment against producer Amanda Ghost to protect her career prospects in the film industry. MacInnes, who played a lead role in Wilson’s directorial debut musical comedy The Deb, denied the claims and initiated legal action to clear her name. A Guardian report from May 2026 detailed how MacInnes’ barrister accused Wilson of a complete revision of history during the trial’s closing submissions.
Central to the dispute was an incident in September 2023 at Bondi Beach, where MacInnes and Ghost went for a swim and the producer experienced an allergic reaction to the cold water. The pair returned to Ghost’s rented luxury apartment, leading to both entering a bathtub while wearing swimsuits, an event Justice Raper described as unusual in her ruling. Wilson maintained that MacInnes had initially told her the situation made her uncomfortable before changing her account.
Evidence presented included a text message Wilson sent to Ghost stating that MacInnes had clarified it was merely a bizarre situation rather than personal discomfort. Lawyers for MacInnes countered that Wilson’s version amounted to malicious fabrications and alleged the star had commissioned a smear website targeting Ghost, accusations Wilson rejected in her testimony. The court heard that MacInnes had signed a substantial record deal following the events, which Wilson’s defense used to argue against any lasting professional damage.
In a post on Instagram after the verdict, Wilson said the process had taught her a lot. “It has tested me, but it has also reinforced something I’ve always believed. I want to live my life standing up for what I believe is right, while continuing to create work that brings people joy,” she wrote. Wilson added that she was grateful this chapter had reached its conclusion and thanked her supporters, the judge and the Australian legal system, for which she expressed the utmost respect.
Production of The Deb became embroiled in broader controversy, with a Deadline article from December 2025 describing how the project descended into legal chaos that devastated cast and crew members. Wilson has faced multiple lawsuits connected to the film, including allegations of bullying on set that she has dismissed as absolute nonsense in previous statements to media. The case underscores challenges in the entertainment sector where personal disputes during production can lead to prolonged court battles.
The BBC has approached MacInnes for comment on the outcome but is yet to receive a response. Court records reviewed during the proceedings highlighted the complexities of balancing creative collaborations with personal boundaries in the film industry. This resolution may allow both parties to move forward from the highly publicized legal conflict that has unfolded over the past two years.
