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Court hears allegations of historical revision in defamation case
Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes has accused Hollywood star Rebel Wilson of distorting facts in a defamation lawsuit over Instagram posts that allegedly damaged her reputation. The trial, which concluded closing arguments on Friday, centers on Wilson's 2024-2025 claims that MacInnes withdrew a sexual harassment complaint in exchange for career advantages.
Bondi Beach incident sparks legal dispute
The controversy stems from a September 2023 incident at Sydney's Bondi Beach, where MacInnes-then a recent graduate of a Western Australian acting academy-joined producer Amanda Ghost for a swim. After Ghost suffered an allergic reaction to cold water, the pair retreated to Ghost's rented beachfront apartment. Court testimony described how MacInnes prepared a bath for Ghost, who later joined her while both wore swimsuits. An assistant briefly sat with them, serving hot drinks.
Wilson's affidavit later claimed MacInnes told her the next day that Ghost's invitation to share the bath made her uncomfortable. Wilson stated she was "shocked" and "troubled" by the implication of impropriety. However, a text message from Wilson to Ghost, presented in court, suggested MacInnes had downplayed the incident, calling it "a bizarre situation" rather than personally distressing.
Conflicting narratives emerge in trial
MacInnes's legal team argued Wilson's accusations were "malicious concoctions," designed to pressure film producers during contract negotiations for The Deb, the movie both women worked on. Barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC dismissed Wilson's version as a "complete revision of history," questioning how a medical episode could logically be framed as sexual harassment.
Wilson's lawyer, Dauid Sibtain SC, countered that MacInnes's career had thrived since the posts, citing new acting roles and a record deal allegedly secured through Ghost. He suggested MacInnes altered her account to gain professional benefits, which later materialized.
Bullying allegations and aggravated damages
The trial also heard claims that Wilson bullied female crew members on The Deb, a charge she denied as "absolute nonsense." MacInnes is seeking aggravated damages for reputational harm, while Wilson faces additional lawsuits in Australia and the U.S. from The Deb producers, including Ghost.
Verdict pending
Justice Elizabeth Raper reserved her decision after three weeks of testimony. The case highlights tensions between accountability and career impacts in the entertainment industry, with both sides presenting starkly different interpretations of the same events.
