The Brief:
Dentons has secured a Federal Court win for Rebel Wilson, defeating a defamation claim brought by The Deb co-star Charlotte MacInnes.
Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the case and ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson’s costs.
Behind the scenes of Rebel Wilson’s The Deb was a defamation fight two years in the making.
Charlotte MacInnes, the film’s lead actress, sued her director over a series of Instagram posts.
On Wednesday, the Federal Court sided with Wilson.
The dispute
It all traces back to a swim gone wrong.
In September 2023, MacInnes and The Deb’s producer Amanda Ghost went for an evening swim at Bondi Beach. The pair ended up back at the apartment they were staying at, where they both got into a bath.
What happened next is where the stories diverge.
Wilson says MacInnes complained to her at work the next day that the bath had made her feel uncomfortable. MacInnes maintains she never made a complaint at all.
The dispute escalated in September 2024, when Wilson posted a series of social media claims suggesting MacInnes had retracted a sexual harassment complaint against Ghost in exchange for career favours, including a record deal with Atlantic Records and a lead role in the American Repertory Theatre’s production of Gatsby.
Her barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, argued in opening submissions that Wilson had in fact fabricated the harassment claim entirely, using it as “leverage” during a contractual dispute over The Deb’s budget.
By September 2025, MacInnes had filed suit in the Federal Court, pleading 19 defamatory imputations and seeking general and aggravated damages.
The verdict
Justice Elizabeth Raper sided with Wilson on almost every count.
Of the 19 imputations, only one was found to have been made at all: that MacInnes had “changed her story” about the bath incident. Raper found it wasn’t defamatory, and even if it had been, Wilson would have established her truth defence anyway.
MacInnes also failed to show serious harm. Raper found little evidence her reputation had actually suffered, noting those around her had “rallied to support her” rather than turned on her. She also rejected the idea that Wilson’s posts carried particular weight in the industry, finding there was “great circumspection for any claims Ms Wilson makes.”
All three key witnesses copped criticism. Raper called MacInnes, Ghost and Wilson “unreliable.” She specifically called out Wilson’s “propensity to exaggerate, to be suspicious and to draw long bows from evidence.” But the judge still accepted Wilson’s account of the bath complaint, without ruling on whether harassment actually occurred.
MacInnes has been ordered to pay Wilson’s costs. She’s already flagged an appeal.
Who’s acting
Dentons ran Wilson’s defence, led by Managing Associate Sylvia Alcarraz and Senior Associates Rhyann M’Gee and Kathryn Murray, with Lara Smith and Joshua Anderson rounding out the team. Counsel was Dauid Sibtain SC and Tim Senior of Level 22 Chambers, and Conor O’Beirne of Aickin Chambers.
MacInnes was represented by Sue Chrysanthou SC and Timothy Smartt, instructed by Giles George.
What they said
Dentons’ Australian Head of Dispute Resolution John Dalzell said:
“The decision to bring a claim in defamation is not to be taken lightly. This is but one of many high-profile defamation claims which have been commenced and have ended badly for the applicant. We are delighted for Rebel, who was vindicated. However, this matter has emphasised the risks for high profile personalities when using social media, which unfortunately resulted in a lengthy and emotionally demanding litigation for all involved.”
Wilson posted on Instagram:
“This process has taught me a lot. It has tested me, but it has also reinforced something I’ve always believed. Thank you to the judge and the Australian legal system for this substantial win today in THE DEB matter: Look forward to moving on!”