Sydney court finds Rebel Wilson did not defame co-star

A Sydney court has ruled that actor and director Rebel Wilson did not defame her colleague Charlotte MacInnes, bringing a bitter legal dispute over social media posts to a close. Justice Elizabeth Raper of the Federal Court delivered the verdict on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, finding that MacInnes failed to prove the publications caused serious harm.

The case stemmed from a series of Instagram stories Wilson posted between September 2024 and July 2025 concerning an incident involving MacInnes and film producer Amanda Ghost. Wilson alleged that MacInnes, the star of Wilson's directorial debut "The Deb," confided in her in 2023 that she felt uncomfortable after Ghost asked to share a bath and shower. Wilson further claimed MacInnes later withdrew that complaint after securing career opportunities linked to Ghost, including a lead role in a stage production and a six-figure record deal.

MacInnes sued for defamation, arguing the posts portrayed her as a liar and a "sellout" who fabricated a sexual harassment complaint for career gain. She denied ever making or retracting a complaint, stating the bath incident occurred while both women were wearing swimwear after Ghost experienced a...