World Australia 4 min read Hollywood star Rebel Wilson wins defamation case brought by young actress

 

Actor Rebel Wilson on the first day of a nine-day defamation hearing in Sydney, Australia, April 20, 2026.

Hollie Adams/Reuters

Brisbane, Australia —  

Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has successfully defended claims she defamed a young actress who played the lead role in her directorial debut.

An Australian judge on Wednesday dismissed the case brought by “The Deb” actress Charlotte MacInnes, who had accused the “Pitch Perfect” star of spreading lies about her to millions of followers on Instagram.

MacInnes said the posts had made her the “subject of abuse, hatred and ridicule online” and affected her career prospects. Justice Elizabeth Raper disagreed.

In the posts, Wilson suggested MacInnes had withdrawn a complaint of sexual harassment against the film’s producers to further her career as an actor and singer. MacInnes denied ever having made a complaint.

Actor Charlotte MacInnes outside a Sydney court during the defamation hearing.

Hollie Adams/Reuters

The claim and counterclaim are among serious allegations – including of smear campaigns and embezzlement – aired in multiple court cases now swirling around the production of the Australian musical comedy.

Set in an outback Australian town, “The Deb” tells the story of two very different cousins – one from the city and one from the country – who unite ahead of a debutante ball. It was supposed to be a heartwarming tale of triumph, but its making has spawned a saga of its own.