Rebel Wilson denies bullying Charlotte MacInnes in 'The Deb' defamation trial
Synopsis
Rebel Wilson took the stand in an Australian defamation trial, denying she bullied Charlotte MacInnes or orchestrated a smear campaign against producer Amanda Ghost. The 25-year entertainment veteran insisted her career proves she is a women's champion, even as lawyers presented messages allegedly linking her to a harsh website targeting Ghost.
Key Takeaways
Rebel Wilson testified in an Australian defamation trial on Tuesday , denying bullying allegations by Charlotte MacInnes .
Wilson maintained she is a "champion of women" despite accusations she damaged MacInnes's reputation over claims about producer Amanda Ghost's conduct.
MacInnes's legal team accused Wilson of hiring publicist Melissa Nathan to create websites smearing Ghost .
Wilson has previously told a U.S. court she "unequivocally" had no role in creating or posting the website content.
The nine-day trial centres on allegations Wilson colluded with Ghost to cover up misconduct.
Actress and comedian Rebel Wilson testified for the first time in an Australian defamation trial on Tuesday, maintaining her assertion that she is a "champion of women" despite allegations that she bullied Charlotte MacInnes and others connected to her directorial debut film 'The Deb'. The nine-day trial centres on MacInnes's claim that Wilson damaged her reputation by alleging she was a victim of "inappropriate behaviour" by producer Amanda Ghost.
The allegations against Wilson
Sue Chrysanthou, MacInnes's barrister, accused Wilson during cross-examination of bullying MacInnes, Ghost, and writer Hannah Reilly, contradicting her public claims of supporting women. MacInnes also alleges that Wilson colluded with Ghost to cover up the alleged misconduct.
Wilson's defence
Wilson was softly spoken under questioning, according to reports, and denied the accusations outright. "That's absolute nonsense," she said when confronted with the bullying allegations. "If you look over my 25-year career, you can see many evidence of me supporting women", she added, pointing to her track record in the industry.
The website smear campaign allegations
MacInnes's legal team has accused Wilson of hiring publicist Melissa Nathan of The Agency Group (TAG) to create websites targeting Ghost with derogatory content, including calling the producer the "Indian Ghislaine Maxwell". Wilson has consistently denied involvement in the websites. Court documents include messages that emerged from the separate Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni dispute, in which Nathan reportedly tells former colleague Katie Case that "Rebel wants" a "really harsh" website about "Amanda".
Wilson's prior denials
Wilson previously told a U.S. court last year that she "unequivocally" played no role in "conceiving, planning, registering, directing, creating, writing, or posting the content" of the websites. This testimony is expected to be a focal point as the trial continues over the next several days.
Point of View
But the trial has exposed a credibility gap. Messages allegedly linking her to a smear campaign against Ghost — surfaced in an unrelated Blake Lively dispute — suggest a pattern of using proxies to manage reputation crises. Whether a jury accepts her public persona over documentary evidence will likely determine the trial's outcome. This case underscores how even celebrated advocates for women can face allegations of the very conduct they publicly oppose.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the defamation case between Rebel Wilson and Charlotte MacInnes about?
Charlotte MacInnes is suing Rebel Wilson in Australia for defamation, claiming Wilson damaged her reputation by alleging she was a victim of inappropriate behaviour by producer Amanda Ghost and then colluded with Ghost to cover it up.
What did Rebel Wilson testify during the trial?
Wilson testified on Tuesday that she is a "champion of women" and denied all bullying allegations. She stated that over her 25-year career, there is ample evidence of her supporting women, and she unequivocally denied involvement in creating or posting content on smear websites.
What role does Melissa Nathan play in the case?
MacInnes's legal team alleges that Wilson hired publicist Melissa Nathan of The Agency Group (TAG) to create websites targeting producer Amanda Ghost with derogatory content. Messages from an unrelated Blake Lively dispute reportedly show Nathan mentioning that "Rebel wants" a "really harsh" website about "Amanda."
How long is the trial expected to last?
The trial is scheduled to run for nine days, with Wilson's testimony on Tuesday marking her first appearance as a witness in the proceedings.
