Rebel Wilson, an Australian actress known for her roles in major films, has recently encountered significant turmoil linked to her directorial debut, The Deb. Since her breakout role in Bridesmaids in 2011, Wilson has climbed to prominence in Hollywood with performances in films like Pitch Perfect (2012) and Jojo Rabbit (2019). The Deb, a musical directed by and starring Wilson, tells the story of two teenage girls navigating the challenges of a debutante ball.
However, recent events threatened not only the film’s release but also Wilson’s reputation.
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In July 2023, Wilson alleged that her producers, Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron, and Vince Holden, partook in inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment against the film’s lead actress and embezzlement of funds from the film’s budget. Wilson claimed these actions jeopardized the film’s premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Responding to Wilson’s claims, the trio filed a defamation lawsuit against her shortly after her public allegations. They accused Wilson of fabricating sexual harassment claims to deflect from her own alleged misconduct and to ensure The Deb could premiere at TIFF. According to their lawsuit, Wilson purportedly attempted to secure a writing credit that was not rightfully hers and undermined the production team’s work.
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On October 3, 2024, Rebel Wilson filed a countersuit against the producers of The Deb. Her cross-complaint outlines what she describes as a “troubling pattern” of behavior indicating theft, bullying, and sexual misconduct by Ghost, Cameron, and Holden. Specifically, Wilson alleged that Ghost had engaged in sexual harassment of Charlotte MacInnes, the film’s lead actress, including coercive living arrangements and inappropriate comments during production.
Additionally, Wilson’s countersuit claimed that the producers had inflated the film’s budget, embezzling approximately AU $900,000 for personal gain. The complaint outlined a retaliatory campaign against Wilson initiated after she brought her concerns to the attention of executive producer Danny Cohen, who allegedly dismissed her reports without thorough investigation.
Wilson’s new suit alleges that Ghost was sexually harassing the film’s lead actress, Charlotte MacInnes, and “forced MacInnes to live in her Bondi Beach penthouse apartment with her,” where “Ghost took a shower and a bath with MacInnes.” It also claimed that “Ghost was overheard making overtly sexual remarks to MacInnes on set.”
In Wilson’s suit, Ghost, Gregor and Holden are also accused of scheming to inflate the film’s budget and pocket the excess funds, according to the complaint. The suit said they “embezzled AU $900,000 from the film’s budget to be split between them.”
When Wilson reported the allegations to executive producer Danny Cohen, which he allegedly ignored, according to the suit, that’s when the producing trio “orchestrated a malicious and unyielding retaliatory campaign directed at her.”
Both Charlotte MacInnes and Danny Cohen responded publicly to Wilson’s accusations. MacInnes flatly denied the allegations against Ghost, stating, “There is no truth to the allegations made involving me.” On the other hand, Danny Cohen defended his actions, asserting that he took Wilson’s reports seriously and had documented steps taken to investigate them. He stated, “Despite repeated requests, Rebel did not provide any actual evidence that these claims were true.”
Amid these disputes, Wilson took to social media to assert her position, emphasizing that her statements were grounded in truth. She argued that the defamation claim against her was unfounded and was a diversionary tactic by the producers. Additionally, notable artist Shakira was indirectly drawn into the controversy. Wilson’s countersuit referenced previous troubling interactions involving Ghost, claiming she had coerced Shakira into unfavorable agreements, which Shakira’s representatives vehemently denied.
What do you think about Rebel Wilson’s lawsuit? Do you believe the claims she made? Let us know in the comments!
