Rebel Wilson wins Sydney defamation case after a judge ruled her Instagram posts about actress Charlotte MacInnes were not defamatory and caused no serious harm.
Rebel Wilson wins Sydney defamation case after a judge in the city cleared the actress of defaming Charlotte MacInnes, a young Australian performer who appeared in Wilson’s film The Deb. The court found that Wilson’s Instagram posts from 2024 and 2025 were not defamatory and that MacInnes had not shown serious harm.
Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the case on Wednesday and ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson’s legal costs. At the heart of the dispute was Wilson’s claim that MacInnes had withdrawn a complaint of sexual harassment against a film producer so she could advance her career. MacInnes denied that account and argued Wilson had damaged her reputation by posting about the matter online.
The allegations traced back to an incident involving MacInnes and Amanda Ghost, one of the producers of Wilson’s film. According to evidence heard in court, MacInnes and Ghost went swimming at Bondi Beach in September 2023, after Ghost had an allergic reaction to cold water. They later returned to Ghost’s luxury apartment, where Ghost showered, MacInnes ran a bath, and MacInnes then joined Ghost in the tub while both wore swimsuits. Ghost’s assistant later brought hot drinks and sat with them briefly.
The court also heard that Wilson later discussed the episode with MacInnes. Both sides agreed the conversation happened, but they disagreed sharply over what was said. Wilson said MacInnes told her the bath incident made her feel uncomfortable. MacInnes denied using that word and said she described the scene only as weird, strange, or bizarre.
“Rebel Wilson wins Sydney defamation case after a judge ruled her Instagram posts about actress Charlotte MacInnes were not defamatory and caused no serious harm.”
MacInnes had previously told the court in April that Wilson had misrepresented an innocent event and used it against her. She also said her relationship with Wilson worsened during filming of The Deb in the months after the bath incident. Her lawyers called Wilson’s claims malicious inventions and said the Hollywood star had ordered a smear website to target Ghost, a claim Wilson denied.
Wilson’s side argued that MacInnes had not actually suffered harm from the posts. The defense pointed to a recent record deal MacInnes had signed and noted that she graduated from acting school in Western Australia in 2021. Justice Raper said the circumstances around how the two women ended up in the bath were highly unusual, but she found that the posts did not meet the legal threshold for defamation and serious harm.
Wilson responded on Instagram after the ruling, saying the process had taught her a lot and tested her, while also reinforcing her belief in standing up for what she thinks is right. She thanked her supporters, said she was grateful the chapter had ended, and expressed respect for the judge and the Australian legal system. The case matters beyond one celebrity fight because it shows how seriously courts are treating online allegations, reputation claims, and the question of when social media crosses a legal line.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Sydney court decide in Rebel Wilson’s defamation case?
Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the case and found Wilson’s Instagram posts were not defamatory. The judge also ruled that MacInnes had not shown serious harm.
What was the dispute about?
Wilson claimed MacInnes withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against a film producer to advance her career. MacInnes denied that account and said Wilson damaged her reputation by posting about it online.
What happened to the costs after the ruling?
The judge ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson’s legal costs.
How did Rebel Wilson respond to winning the case?
Wilson posted on Instagram that the process had tested her and taught her a lot. She thanked supporters, said she was glad the chapter had ended, and expressed respect for the judge and the Australian legal system.
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