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Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson has been cleared of defamation allegations after an Australian court dismissed a lawsuit brought by actress Charlotte MacInnes over a series of Instagram posts relating to the production of Wilson’s film The Deb.
Justice Elizabeth Raper of the New South Wales Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in Wilson’s favour, finding that the statements complained of were not defamatory and that MacInnes had failed to prove they caused, or were likely to cause, serious harm to her reputation.
The judge also ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson’s legal costs.
The case centred on Instagram posts published by Wilson in 2024 and 2025, in which she alleged that MacInnes had withdrawn a sexual harassment complaint against one of the film’s producers to advance her acting career.
MacInnes denied the allegation and sued the Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect star, arguing that the posts had damaged her professional reputation.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Raper found that the implication that MacInnes had changed her account of the incident was not defamatory under Australian law.
The lawsuit stemmed from an incident in September 2023 involving MacInnes and film producer Amanda Ghost.
According to court proceedings, the pair had gone swimming at Sydney’s Bondi Beach when Ghost suffered an allergic reaction to the cold water. They returned to Ghost’s rented apartment, where MacInnes prepared a bath to help the producer warm up. Both women entered the bath wearing swimsuits.
Commenting on the episode, Justice Raper observed that the circumstances were highly unusual.
“To say that the circumstances surrounding how they came to be in the bath are unusual would be an understatement,” she told the court.
During the three-week trial earlier this year, Wilson testified that MacInnes had initially told her she felt uncomfortable after Ghost invited her to share the bath.
However, Wilson said MacInnes later clarified that she had described the situation only as “bizarre” rather than personally uncomfortable. A text message Wilson subsequently sent to Ghost, presented in court, reflected that clarification.
MacInnes’s legal team argued that Wilson’s allegations were “malicious concoctions” and accused the actress of attempting to damage Ghost’s reputation through an online smear campaign, allegations Wilson denied.
Wilson’s lawyers maintained that MacInnes had suffered no measurable reputational damage, noting that the actress had recently secured a record deal during the period in question.
Following the ruling, Wilson welcomed the decision in a post on Instagram.
“The process has taught me a lot,” she wrote. “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 thanked the court, her supporters and the Australian legal system, saying she was grateful the case had reached its conclusion.
The BBC reported that it had contacted MacInnes for comment following the judgment. Source: BBC News