Rebel Wilson denies bullying claims in Sydney court case

Rebel Wilson has firmly denied claims that she bullied women involved in her film project. She described the allegations as “absolute nonsense” during her first court appearance in Sydney. The case focuses on statements she made online. It follows a dispute linked to her directorial debut, The Deb.

The legal action came from Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes. She argues that Wilson harmed her reputation through Instagram posts shared in 2024 and 2025. According to MacInnes, Wilson wrongly described her as dishonest. This claim relates to an alleged complaint about inappropriate conduct by film producer Amanda Ghost. However, MacInnes insists she never made such a complaint.

Tense Exchanges In Court

The hearing on Tuesday included intense questioning. MacInnes’s lawyer challenged Wilson’s public statements and her actions during production. At the same time, journalists, supporters, and witnesses filled the courtroom. Ghost also attended as Wilson responded directly to the accusations.

When asked about her stance on supporting women, Wilson answered clearly. She said she supports women and always has. She then rejected claims that she mistreated colleagues on set. In addition, she maintained that her online comments reflected what she believed to be true. She stressed that people should not view them as bullying.

During cross examination, Wilson often said she could not recall certain details. Still, she denied taking part in creating online platforms used to spread harmful rumours about MacInnes and Ghost. She also dismissed claims that she encouraged any such actions.

Read More: Actor Rebel Wilson Faces Defamation Case in Australian Court Over Social Media Posts

Meanwhile, lawyers for MacInnes accused Wilson of dishonesty. Wilson quickly rejected that claim. She called it “outrageous” and stood by her earlier statements. She repeated that her comments came from her understanding of events.

The dispute traces back to an incident in September 2023. It involved MacInnes and Ghost at Bondi Beach. According to testimony, Ghost reacted badly to cold water. As a result, both women returned quickly to her apartment to warm up. What followed has now become a key issue in the case.

The court heard that the two women shared a bath while still in swimwear. Wilson later told the court that MacInnes described the situation as uncomfortable. However, MacInnes disagreed with that version. She said she only called the moment unusual. She also denied expressing any distress.

Text messages shown in court added more detail. In those messages, Wilson told Ghost that MacInnes had “no issues” with the incident. She described it as “bizarre” rather than troubling. Even so, MacInnes argues that Wilson later presented the situation differently in public. She believes that this harmed her relationship with Wilson. She also claims it affected her career.

On the other hand, Wilson’s legal team disagrees. They argue that MacInnes has not suffered any real career damage. They pointed to her recent achievements as proof. These include a music deal with Atlantic Records and a role in a United States stage production linked to Ghost.

Furthermore, the court heard additional claims. These include accusations that a public relations firm helped publish harmful content about Ghost. There were also concerns about a leaked private image of MacInnes after a hacking incident. These details added more tension to the case.

As the hearing continues, Wilson remains firm in her defence. She insists that her actions were not harmful. She also maintains that her statements were honest. Meanwhile, the court plans to hear more testimony in the coming days.