Renowned Australian actress Rebel Wilson has recently spoken out regarding the allegations and legal battles that have arisen since she identified herself as a ‘whistleblower’ for sexual harassment during the filming of her latest project, The Deb.
The 45-year-old, known for her role in Pitch Perfect, gave an interview to 60 Minutes Australia to discuss the ongoing legal disputes between herself and several members of the production team ahead of her first directorial release.
Wilson is currently embroiled in a defamation lawsuit initiated by The Deb’s lead actress, Charlotte MacInnes. The lawsuit stems from Wilson’s filing of a sexual harassment claim on MacInnes’s behalf, which the actress refuted, alleging that Wilson’s subsequent comments were aimed at advancing her own career.
According to Wilson, MacInnes, 25, informed her that producer Amanda Ghost, 51, had an adverse reaction to cold water and returned home with the lead actress to warm up in a shower—a claim MacInnes labeled as ‘completely false and absurd’ in her counter lawsuit.
The legal tensions among The Deb‘s production team members emerged in July 2024. Wilson accused producers Gregor Cameron, Vince Holden, and Ghost of attempting to block the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
She further alleged that the producers engaged in ‘bad behavior’ on set, sharing these accusations with her large Instagram following, which led the producers to file defamation claims against her.
Wilson, making her directorial debut, subsequently countersued the group, citing a series of ‘illicit behaviors, including theft and bullying.’ Her counterclaim included the assertion that MacInnes suffered a mental breakdown after purported sexual harassment by Ghost.
On Sunday, November 23, Wilson commented on the matter, stating: “I felt that in my position as director, I had to report that. And the moment I did, [it] started all the kind of retaliation against me.”
In her conversation with 60 Minutes‘ Tara Brown, Wilson expressed her certainty regarding MacInnes’s statement: “Amanda Ghost asked me to [take] a bath and shower with her, and it made me feel really uncomfortable.”
When asked about reporting the complaint on MacInnes’s behalf, Wilson explained: “She came to me, she made what I obviously inferred as a sexual harassment complaint, and I had a duty to then act on it.”
Brown then presented Wilson with purported texts between Ghost and herself, suggesting that the film’s lead felt ‘all good’ after the shower incident, with both parties exchanging polite messages.
“How I would describe those texts, is I’m trying to maintain professional communication with Amanda Ghost — she’s the producer, she’s the access to the money for the film,” Wilson elaborated. “This is weeks before we start shooting the movie, and I’m trying to keep a very professional communication, but at the same time I’m feeling very uneasy.”
Brown also questioned Wilson on why she disregarded MacInnes’s denial of harassment, which Wilson attributed to MacInnes’s involvement in Ghost’s stage production of The Great Gatsby.
“I think, when it gets into the details in court, I don’t think anyone in their right mind believes that a medical incident occurred and Amanda Ghost needed the body warmth of an actress to save her life. It’s just not credible,” Wilson commented.
Wilson further criticized the producers of her directorial project, describing an incident where she felt ‘locked in a room’ and coerced into signing documents. “At the time, I said, ‘What is this? This is like the KGB,'” she remarked.
She attributed the on-set drama to ‘UK producers,’ stating: “I was, kind of, the target of this incessant bullying and harassment because I’d spoken out about the behavior of these UK producers,” she informed Brown.
When asked about allegations that she was a bully during production, Wilson defended herself: “No, I see that as, like, standing up for my movie and the hard work that everyone put into it for years.”
The Deb is expected to be released in Australia and New Zealand, though its international release date has not been announced.
UNILAD has reached out to the legal representatives of the producers and MacInnes for their comments.