Rebel Wilson sued by film producers over ‘inappropriate conduct’ claim
Hollywood star Rebel Wilson is being sued by producers of her new film over her claim one of them made ‘inappropriate sexual advances’ towards young Australian actor Charlotte MacInnes.
Hollywood star Rebel Wilson is being sued by producers of her film The Deb over claims that the actor made false, derogatory statements about them, including accusations of engaging in “inappropriate conduct” towards lead actor in the film, Charlotte MacInnes.
The producers also allege Wilson, the film’s director, falsely accused them of embezzling the film’s funds and that she threatened the Australian distributor of the film, Kismet, she would obtain an injunction to prevent its release.
Wilson’s directorial debut is a musical comedy about teenage cousins attending a debutante ball in a small Australian country town, with 25-year-old MacInnes in the starring role.
The film premiered to good reviews at the Toronto Film Festival in September last year but has not been released in cinemas because of the dispute between Wilson and producers Vince Holden, Gregor Cameron and Amanda Ghost.
The three producers are already suing Wilson for defamation in US courts and on Thursday Holden’s company, A.I. Film, filed proceedings against her in the NSW Supreme Court, alleging serious breaches of contract and director’s duties, misleading and deceptive conduct, and injurious falsehood.
The dispute revolves around Wilson’s very public statements, including in a video posted on Instagram in July 2024 last year, where she said she had reported the producers for “inappropriate behaviour towards the lead actress of the film” and for “embezzling funds from the film’s budget”.
“Now, these people, you know, Amanda Ghost in particular, has a history of doing this kind of thing, mainly to music artists but also to people in the film business,” Wilson allegedly said.
She also allegedly threatened that if the movie didn’t screen at Toronto, it was “because of these absolute f..kwits”.
Last September, Wilson reposted a Daily Mail article titled “Actress at centre of defamation suit against Rebel Wilson is REVEALED as drama from Australian Star’s new film The Deb escalates”.
Wilson is then alleged to have said: “When an actress on her first feature film is asked by a producer to stay in the same apartment as them, and then makes a complaint to me as the director saying producer ‘asked her to have a bath and shower with her’ and it made her feel uncomfortable – what am I supposed to do? Of course I reported it. There is no world where this is acceptable. The fact this girl has been employed now by this ‘producer’ in the lead role of a production called GATSBY and given a record label – should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story.”
The producers allege these statements conveyed that one of the producers had made “inappropriate sexual advances to an actress in the film”, which they deny.
The other producers say that despite Wilson’s claims, they pressed on with finalising and releasing The Deb, with the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September last year “to wide acclaim”.
“Wilson, however, deliberately undermined these efforts by continuing to publish false and derogatory statements about the other producers and AI Film, including repeating the false allegation that they were trying to block the release of the film.
“In fact, it was Wilson who was undermining attempts to secure distribution deals for the film by continuing to make public and false allegations, and by deliberately undermining negotiations with potential distributors”, the summons states.
In May this year, during the Cannes Film Festival, Wilson allegedly posted more Instagram stories, suggesting MacInnes had “lied by denying the allegations of sexual misconduct by the film’s UK producers”.
“Charlotte MacInnes in a culturally inappropriate Indian outfit on Len Blavatnik’s luxury yacht in Cannes – ironically singing a song from a movie that will never get released because of her lies and support for the people blocking the film’s release. So glad you got your record deal Charlotte at the expense of the 300 people who worked on The Deb and really wanna see it released.”
According to the producers, those statements conveyed representations that MacInnes had lied by denying the allegations of sexual misconduct and that the film’s UK producers were blocking its release.
They say that in fact MacInnes had “truthfully denied the allegations of sexual misconduct” since September 2023.
They noted MacInnes’ statement to a newspaper that there was no truth to the allegations. “Making false accusations undermines real victims and this must be the subject of a hurricane narrative”.
Later, The Deb’s Instagram account (under Wilson’s control) posted that “After this session Ghost took MacInnes back to the Bondi Beach Penthouse apartment that they were ‘sharing’ after Ghost insisted MacInnes live with her despite the film housing all interstate cast members in hotels, which is professional standard.”
In the summons, Ghost denies engaging in any inappropriate behaviour towards MacInnes.
The producers say as a result of threats made by Wilson, Kismet withdrew its proposed distribution of the film in Australia.
The producers are seeking damage, compensation, an apology from Wilson and an order that she be permanently restrained from making statements.
In a statement, AI Film said: ‘These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb’s timely release. It’s a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it.’
MacInnes said: “I love this film and I can’t wait for it to be released. It would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen.”
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