Rebel Wilson Wins Defamation Case Over 'The Deb' Instagram Posts

Rebel Wilson has won a defamation lawsuit brought by actor Charlotte MacInnes over a series of Instagram posts about the production of Wilson's directorial debut, The Deb.

On Wednesday, Justice Elizabeth Raper of the Federal Court of Australia dismissed MacInnes' defamation and breach-of-confidence claims and ordered her to pay Wilson's legal costs.

The case focused on Instagram posts published between September 2024 and July 2025. MacInnes argued the posts falsely suggested she changed her account of an uncomfortable incident involving producer Amanda Ghost to advance her career.

Justice Raper found that only one post conveyed that meaning but ruled it was not defamatory because it would not necessarily lower MacInnes' reputation. The judge also found that MacInnes had not shown the post caused serious reputational harm and, in any event, concluded the statement was substantially true.

The court found that MacInnes had initially told Wilson she felt uncomfortable after caring for Ghost following a swim at Sydney's Bondi Beach but later changed her account. The judge described both MacInnes and Ghost as unreliable witnesses and did not rule that Ghost's conduct amounted to sexual harassment.

MacInnes' breach-of-confidence claim was also dismissed. The court found she had not proven that Wilson disclosed confidential information about a sexual harassment complaint or established the other legal requirements for the claim.

Following the ruling, Wilson said she was grateful the case had ended and thanked the court. She said she was looking forward to focusing on her family and work, including The Deb.