Australian actress and filmmaker Rebel Wilson has won a high-profile defamation lawsuit after a Federal Court judge ruled that her social media posts about actress Charlotte MacInnes, the lead star of Wilson’s directorial debut The Deb, did not defame her.
Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the case on Wednesday, finding that MacInnes failed to prove Wilson’s Instagram posts caused serious harm to her reputation — a key legal requirement under Australia’s defamation laws. The judge also ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson’s legal costs.
The legal dispute stemmed from a series of posts Wilson published in 2024 and 2025 regarding an incident that occurred during the production of The Deb. Wilson claimed MacInnes had privately expressed discomfort over a 2023 bath-sharing incident involving the film’s producer, Amanda Ghost, before later changing her account. MacInnes denied making or retracting any such complaint and argued Wilson’s posts falsely portrayed her as dishonest and damaged her career prospects.
In her judgment, Justice Raper concluded that the evidence did not establish the alleged reputational damage required for a successful defamation claim. The court also found that one statement challenged by MacInnes was substantially true, further strengthening Wilson’s defence.
Following the ruling, Wilson welcomed the decision, thanking her legal team and supporters. She said she looked forward to returning her focus to filmmaking and family life after months of legal proceedings. MacInnes’ lawyers indicated they intend to appeal the verdict, meaning the long-running dispute could continue in higher courts.
The judgment marks another significant legal victory for Wilson, who previously won a widely publicised defamation case in Australia in 2017. The latest ruling also highlights the high threshold plaintiffs must meet to prove serious reputational harm in cases involving social media statements.