An email described as “deranged”, sent by Rebel Wilson during a serious dispute surrounding her musical comedy film The Deb, has been read aloud in court as a defamation case involving the actor-director begins.
The matter opened yesterday (April 20) in Australia’s Federal Court, where 25-year-old lead actor Charlotte MacInnes’ claim against Wilson was set out, alongside a series of allegations about Wilson’s conduct towards people working on the 2023 production.
MacInnes is suing Wilson after the comedian publicly suggested the actor had been sexually harassed by a producer—an allegation MacInnes denies. The hearing also canvassed claims about Wilson’s interactions with multiple members of the creative team during filming.
Those claims include assertions involving playwright and screenwriter Hannah Reilly, who wrote The Deb for the stage and authored the screenplay later adapted for the film. Reilly was allegedly labelled “ungrateful” and “frankly, deluded” amid a dispute after Wilson was not granted a co-writer credit.
MacInnes’ lawyer, Sue Chrysanthou SC, presented the email to support her submission that Wilson allegedly acted “deranged”, behaved like a “bully”, and became “enraged” during the making of the film.
“The project would not have moved forward or have been funded with Hannah as the sole writer,” Wilson allegedly wrote, per the Daily Mail, in an email sent to Reilly’s agent while arguing that her own “significant improvements” warranted a co-writing credit.
The message continues by asserting the film would not have secured financing without Wilson’s involvement, before pivoting into a list of complaints Wilson allegedly held about Reilly.
In part, the email objects to Reilly being allowed on set for a small number of days “simply out of courtesy”, with Wilson alleging Reilly was “b*tching” about her.
Wilson, who did not receive a co-writing credit, also said: “She has a history of not valuing others’ creative inputs which is against everything I stand for. It is also, quite frankly, deluded. If it was unclear about my personal feelings towards your client, I hope this email gives you some clarity.”
She signed off by writing: “In my 25 years in the business I have not seen a team be so difficult after being paid handsomely and treated professionally.
“Merry Christmas! Rebel Wilson.”
Chrysanthou told the court the email was “abusive” and “threatening”, stating: “She becomes enraged when Hannah Reilly does not agree to it, and to that point, she sends a shocking email to Hannah’s agent on December 22.”
The barrister further characterised it as a “deranged letter”, arguing it demonstrated Wilson’s level of professionalism, and contending the co-writing credit dispute related to copyright issues rather than creative contribution alone.
The legal fight arises from competing accounts linked to a single episode during production, when MacInnes visited Bondi Beach with producer and songwriter Amanda Ghost.
According to evidence aired in court, Ghost experienced an uncommon reaction associated with cold exposure (urticaria). The pair then shared a warm bath and hot cocoa at Ghost’s beachfront home—both reportedly in swimwear and by mutual agreement—though Wilson maintains MacInnes was sexually harassed.
Wilson also alleged MacInnes was untruthful about raising a complaint with her over the incident, after MacInnes was later offered a record deal and the chance to appear in another Ghost project.
The dispute reportedly intensified amid disagreements with the film’s producers, who claim the conflict traces back to the co-writing credit row and allegations that Wilson attempted to use the bath incident as “leverage” in contract negotiations.
Text messages shown in court also captured Wilson’s initial reaction to Ghost and MacInnes sharing a bath, including a message to Ghost that read: “Charlotte says all good. She just meant ‘it was a bizarre situation’ not that she personally felt uncomfortable.”
The Deb was released earlier this month on April 9 following delays and limited attention, and the defamation hearing is scheduled to run into next week.