Rebel Wilson's claims against actress are 'malicious concoctions', Australian court hears

Claims by Rebel Wilson that a young Australian actress was sexually harassed by a producer but then hid it to better her career are "malicious concoctions", a Sydney court heard on the first day of a defamation case against the star. Charlotte MacInnes is suing Wilson over social media posts she says defamed her by suggesting she withdrew her complaint to further her career. In 2024 and 2025, Wilson posted on Instagram that MacInnes - who stars in Wilson's film The Deb - felt "uncomfortable" after sharing a bath with one of its female producers. The Pitch Perfect star claimed MacInnes retracted a complaint - which MacInnes denies making - in exchange for a major theatre role and a record deal. MacInnes says the allegations have tarnished her reputation for integrity and honesty, and is seeking damages. Lawyers for MacInnes have said she made no complaint to Wilson about the bath incident but that Wilson later used it as "leverage" in a dispute with producers about the film's budget and contracts. On the first day of the case, the court saw a series of private texts between Wilson, the producer Amanda Ghost and MacInnes as well as detailed emails about the bath and alleged sexual ha