Rebel Wilson Wins Defamation Case Over The Deb Bath Dispute, July 23

Rebel Wilson has won a high-stakes defamation case in the Federal Court of Australia. Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the lawsuit brought by Charlotte MacInnes, the lead actor in Wilson’s directorial debut film The Deb, and ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson’s legal costs. The case centred on Instagram posts Wilson made between September 2024 and July 2025 that MacInnes claimed damaged her reputation.

What the court found

Justice Raper ruled that while one Instagram post conveyed an imputation about MacInnes, it was not defamatory. The judge found that MacInnes had failed to establish the posts caused or were likely to cause serious harm to her reputation. Raper also found Wilson had established the conveyed meaning was substantially true.

The bath incident at the centre of the dispute

The case stemmed from events on September 5, 2023, when MacInnes and film producer Amanda Ghost went swimming at Bondi Beach. Ghost suffered a severe reaction to cold water, and the pair later entered a bath together while wearing swimsuits at Ghost’s Sydney apartment. Wilson alleged MacInnes told her the next day the situation made her uncomfortable, but MacInnes denied making or later retracting any complaint.

Wilson’s social media posts and MacInnes’s claims

Wilson posted Instagram stories accusing MacInnes of recanting a sexual harassment complaint to further her career. MacInnes denied making the complaint and sued for defamation, claiming general and aggravated damages. The case also involved claims about a website created by Wilson’s US-based PR firm that alleged MacInnes was assaulted by Ghost, which Wilson denied requesting.

What happens next

MacInnes’s legal representative confirmed she plans to lodge an appeal. Wilson thanked the judge and the Australian legal system, saying the process had reinforced her belief in standing up for what she believes is right. The Deb was released in Australia in April and is scheduled for a US release in August.

Wilson’s other legal battles

This defamation case is one of several court battles Wilson faces over The Deb. Producers on the film are pursuing her in UK, US, and NSW Supreme Court proceedings, alleging she blocked the movie’s release. The 46-year-old appeared in The Deb as actor, director, and producer.

Final Thoughts

Wilson’s Federal Court win removes one legal obstacle, but MacInnes’s planned appeal means the dispute is not over. The ruling allows Wilson to focus on the film’s US release and her other pending legal matters.

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