Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has been cleared of defamation in Sydney after a judge dismissed claims made by her film co-star Charlotte MacInnes.
Hollywood actor and director Rebel Wilson has emerged victorious in a high-profile legal battle after an Australian federal judge completely dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against her by a young co-star. The legal dispute centered on social media posts Wilson made regarding her directorial debut musical film, The Deb. Following months of bitter public claims and a tense courtroom trial, the court ruled that Wilson’s Instagram comments did not unlawfully defame the lead actress, bringing an end to one of the most talked-about legal battles in the global entertainment industry.
Federal Court Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the defamation claims brought forward by 27-year-old Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes, who played the lead role in Wilson’s film. MacInnes had sued the Pitch Perfect star, arguing that Wilson’s social media posts falsely accused her of fabricating and later withdrawing a sexual harassment complaint against one of the film’s producers in exchange for career advancement. MacInnes claimed the online comments subjected her to widespread internet harassment and severely damaged her professional reputation. However, the judge found that Wilson’s Instagram posts did not carry the defamatory meanings alleged by MacInnes and dismissed the case entirely, ordering the young actress to pay Wilson’s substantial legal costs. Following the ruling, Wilson shared her gratitude online, stating she was relieved to close this chapter and return to her work and family.
Geographically, this decisive legal outcome was delivered inside the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney. While the courtroom proceedings took place in Australia, the fallout and international interest spanned Hollywood, London, and global social media platforms due to the high profile of those involved and the international distribution plans for the movie. The final verdict was handed down on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The ruling follows an intense two-week trial held earlier in the year, during which Wilson spent three days giving evidence on the witness stand alongside testimony from film producers, public relations representatives, and MacInnes herself.
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The judge ruled in Wilson’s favor, which comes down to the legal definitions of defamation and the specific evidence presented during the trial. Central to the dispute was a September 2023 incident at a Bondi Beach apartment where MacInnes and a female producer shared a bath in swimwear to warm up after a cold swim. Wilson maintained that MacInnes privately confided in her that the situation made her uncomfortable, though MacInnes denied ever making a formal complaint or feeling distressed. Justice Raper concluded that Wilson’s posts merely reflected her view of changing accounts rather than conveying unlawful defamatory statements that destroyed MacInnes’s reputation. While this ruling resolves the defamation claim between the two stars, separate lawsuits involving the film’s international co-producers remain ongoing.
