Rebel Wilson enters the witness box to give evidence at Charlotte MacInnes defamation trial against her: Live coverage

Rebel Wilson has been called to give evidence in a defamation case against her by the lead actor in her directorial debut, The Deb.

  • 28 апреля 2026, 04:01

Rebel Wilson has been called to give evidence in a defamation case against her by the lead actor in her directorial debut, The Deb. 

Charlotte MacInnes launched civil proceedings after Wilson accused her of complaining about unwanted sexual advances by the films senior producer Amanda Ghost following a sunset swim at Bondi Beach.

Wilson has also accused MacInnes of lying about making the complaint because she was then offered a record deal in one of Ghosts other productions.

MacInnes denies the sexual harassment occurred. She also denies making a complaint and lying about making a complaint in return for a contract.

Follow Daily Mails live coverage.

00:37

Rebel Wilson smiles as she walks into court

Rebel Wilson smiled as she walked into the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday.

She will be cross-examined for two days by Charlotte MacInnes' barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC.

Wilson is represented by Dauid Sibtain SC.

The trial is being livestreamed on the court's YouTube page.

More than 1100 people were watching the livestream from 10.30am, before Wilson was called to the witness box.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 28: Rebel Wilson arrives at Federal Court in Sydney on April 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. In a dispute linked to her directorial debut feature

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 28: Rebel Wilson arrives at Federal Court in Sydney on April 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. In a dispute linked to her directorial debut feature

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 28: Rebel Wilson arrives at Federal Court in Sydney on April 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. In a dispute linked to her directorial debut feature

00:02

Rebel Wilson will be cross-examined for two days

Rebel Wilson is being sued for defamation in the Federal Court by Charlotte MacInnes - the lead actor in musical comedy The Deb, which was directed by Wilson.

MacInnes launched legal proceedings in September after a series of Instagram posts where Wilson accused her of complaining about unwanted sexual advances by producer Amanda Ghost, and then lying about it to get a record contract.

MacInnes denies the sexual assault occurred, that she complained about it to Wilson, and that she retracted it in return for another lead role and the record deal.

The situation unfolded when MacInnes and Ghost had a sunset swim at Bondi Beach on September 5, 2023.

Ghost had a flare-up of a rare condition called cold urticaria, which causes hives or swelling after exposure to cold air or water. MacInnes took her back to their rented Bondi penthouse and ran a hot bath.

MacInnes got in the bath with Ghost. They were both wearing swimming costumes.

Wilson claims MacInnes felt uncomfortable about bathing with Ghsot, who was her boss at the time, and made a complaint to Wilson.

MacInnes says she never felt uncomfortable about the bath and denies making a complaint.

According to MacInnes' statement of claim, Wilson's posts accused her of lying about sexual assault and blocking the film's release, and portraying her as selfishly prioritising her own career over cast and crew who worked on The Deb.

She claims Wilson's social media posts damaged her professional reputation and created doubts about her trustworthiness before she played her first lead role in a film.

MacInnes is seeking aggravated damages for serious harm caused, as well as a court order preventing Wilson from repeating the claims online.

Rebel Wilson's extraordinary move before launching 'grotesque' claims
Rebel Wilson was all smiles when she arrived at the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday ahead of her defamation showdown against Charlotte MacInnes - the lead actor in The Deb.

Rebel Wilson