Rebel Wilson Speaks Out on The Deb Scandal
Actress and director Rebel Wilson has publicly addressed the series of embezzlement, sexual harassment, and bullying allegations that have overshadowed her directorial debut, the film The Deb. The Pitch Perfect star, 45, is facing defamation lawsuits from producer Amanda Ghost and lead actress Charlotte MacInnes, who both vehemently deny Wilson's claims.
The Shower Incident Allegation
In a new interview with Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, Wilson reiterated her bombshell claim that 25-year-old actress Charlotte MacInnes was sexually harassed by producer Amanda Ghost, 51. Wilson stated that MacInnes came to her and reported that Ghost had asked her to have a bath and shower together, which made the young actress feel 'really uncomfortable'.
According to Wilson's account, Ghost allegedly explained she had a medical reaction after swimming in the cold sea at Bondi Beach and got into the shower, at which point she asked MacInnes to join her. 'I felt that in my position as director I had to report that, and the moment I did, it started all the retaliation against me,' Wilson asserted during the Sunday evening broadcast. 'One-hundred percent she told me that. She came to me and made what I inferred as a sexual harassment complaint and I had a duty to then act on it.'
Denials and Defamation Lawsuits
Both MacInnes and Ghost have completely rejected Wilson's version of events. In a formal statement, MacInnes declared: 'I never complained to Ms. Wilson or anyone else that Ms. Ghost "made me feel uncomfortable" or caused me any trauma whatsoever.'
Adding complexity to the situation, text messages from the time appear to contradict Wilson's current stance. In these messages, Wilson told Ghost: 'Charlotte says all good. She just means "it was a bizarre situation" not that she personally felt uncomfortable x.' Ghost responded with relief, writing: 'Oh thank f*** for that. OMG. That's hilarious. I nearly died,' to which Wilson replied: 'She was instantly like, "Oh no, zero issues at all." But she said she was happy I called to clarify.'
When confronted with these texts during the interview, Wilson explained she was 'trying to maintain professional communication' with the film's producer, who also controlled access to the production's finances. However, she maintained that she felt 'uneasy' about the situation despite the apparently reassuring messages.
Wider Legal Battle and Allegations
The controversy extends far beyond the shower incident allegation. In July 2024, producers Amanda Ghost, Gregory Cameron, and Vince Holden sued Wilson for defamation after she accused them of embezzling money from the movie and behaving with 'absolute viciousness'.
Wilson has countersued, accusing these UK producers of sabotaging the $15 million (£11.4 million) film, embezzlement, bullying, and the sexual harassment of MacInnes. 'The drama stemmed from the UK producers on the film. I was the target of this incessant bullying and harassment because I'd spoken out about the behaviour of these producers,' the Bridesmaids star claimed.
In even more serious allegations, Wilson claims she was 'locked in a room and forced to sign documents' about the film, which she characterizes as false imprisonment by producers Ghost, Cameron, and Holden. All producers deny that Wilson was held captive.
Online 'Smear Campaign' Allegations
The legal battle has also spilled online, with claims that Wilson orchestrated a 'smear campaign' against Ghost through 'malicious' websites including 'amandaghostsucks.com' that laid out defamatory claims against the TV producer.
Wilson firmly denied any involvement with these sites, stating: 'I obviously had nothing to do with the creation or publishing of any websites. In fact, my legal team was instrumental in getting these sites taken down by providing the other side with a way of doing this—claiming unauthorised copyright use of a photograph of ME.'
Despite distancing herself from the websites' creation, Wilson intriguingly added: 'However, it is important to note that in my opinion, is the information on these websites probably true? Yes, I feel like it most likely is true with the information I'm aware of after speaking to so many people. You don't need to search very far to find a chequered history of Ghost!'
Conclusion and Film Release
Wilson, who is facing separate lawsuits for defamation and breach of contract, summed up the situation by saying: 'I think it's wild it's gotten to this point. I think it's a ridiculous waste of the Australian legal system.'
Despite the extensive legal drama, The Deb is scheduled for release in Australia and New Zealand on January 15, 2026, though a worldwide release date has not yet been confirmed. The outcome of the multiple lawsuits remains pending as both sides prepare for what could be a protracted legal battle.
