‘The Deb’ star accuses Rebel Wilson of making up sexual harassment claims

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Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes has denied Rebel Wilson’s claims that she was sexually harassed by producer Amanda Ghost on the set of the film. The Deb.

Wilson – who directed the musical comedy that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September – is currently being sued by the film’s producers, Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden for defamation, with the sexual harassment allegations one of their main complaints are against her.

In July 2024, Wilson took her away Instagram to share a video with the caption: “If my movie gets buried, at least you know why.” In the video, she called out the three producers and accused them of “bad behavior,” such as “inappropriate behavior towards the film’s leading actress, and embezzling money from the film’s budget, which we really needed, because we are a small film . .” She also accused them of trying to prevent the film from debuting, amid other retaliatory behavior, reportedly in response to her coverage of the film last October.

The Pitch Perfect star followed up that first Instagram post to her 11 million followers with an image of the cast, subtitled“It’s not defamation if it’s the TRUTH (those ‘producers’ I mentioned in my last post just filed a defamation suit against me and sent it to the press! It’s a fake PR stunt).”

Now her leading lady, MacInnes, is speaking out against her claims, via documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, obtained by The Guardian. “I was deeply disturbed by this behavior and felt very bullied and harassed by it Wilsonwho was the director of the film and was in a position of authority over me,” MacInnes alleged in the filing.

“Nothing I told Wilson could have reasonably indicated that I was reporting any misconduct because there was no misconduct,” the filing continued.

“I also understand (there were) claims that I was subjected to ‘depraved sexual demands’ and that ‘MacInnes remains captive by Ghost and Cameron as she is transported with them from city to city, including Boston, New York and London.’ These statements are completely false and absurd. I have no idea what could cause Wilson and her attorney to make up such lies about me,” the legal documents say.

Wilson accused Ghost, Cameron and Holden of embezzling $900,000 The Deb‘s funding, in addition to claims of bullying and unlawful imprisonment. She is countersuing to dismiss the defamation claims against her under the protection of California’s anti-Slapp laws, which are designed to protect freedom of expression in matters relating to the public interest.

Attorneys for the producers filed a motion to drop Wilson’s claim on Friday, November 8. Their filing alleged that Wilson’s statement “contained multiple blatant falsehoods and rose to the level of outright perjury,” and that her complaint was a private business dispute, not a public issue.

In addition to MacInnes’s files, lawyers acting on behalf of the producers have also collected statements about Wilson’s dispute with the film’s writer, Hannah Reilly, over writing credits for The Deb. They claim Wilson threatened Reilly, whose play was adapted into the movie The Deb after they get the Rebel Wilson theater makers grant which is run through the Australian Theater for Young People – because she refused to award the grant Isn’t it romantic? star writing credits for the film.

When she was denied writing credits, Wilson reportedly tried to get help from the Australian Writers’ Guild for arbitration, reportedly sending an email to Reilly’s agent: “Proceeding with an arbitration places your client at significant financial risk and also destroys any remaining relationship or support your client may receive from me and my associates in the industry.” However, the AWG sided with Reilly and only offered Wilson “additional writing credits”. The Deb.

Lawyers for Ghost, Cameron and Holden also asked for a 90-day stay in the proceedings so they could investigate the source of an anonymous website that accused Ghost of “being an Indian.” Ghislaine Maxwell.” They claimed that the website, which contained “grotesque lies” about Ghost, was registered under the domain name amandaghost.com two days after Wilson allegedly sent emails threatening to “go public” to “ruin them publicly.”

Lawyers acting on behalf of the producers also accused Wilson’s attorney Bryan Freedman of sending them emails threatening to “blow up” one or more of the producers with public accusations of “sex trafficking.” It won’t be good for the movie.”

The hearing on Wilson’s anti-Slapp motion and the producers’ request to stay proceedings will take place on November 21.