Rebel Wilson was labelled “nuts” by a PR team she allegedly hired to create websites attacking a co-producer of her directorial debut, a court has heard. The Pitch Perfect actor directed, co-produced and acted in The Deb, a musical comedy set in rural NSW that remained unreleased for two years due to legal disputes.
She is being sued by the film’s lead actor, Charlotte MacInnes, over social media posts claiming the young performer made a sexual harassment complaint against co-producer Amanda Ghost. MacInnes denies making the complaint to Wilson and says she has been harmed by the older actor’s suggestions she withdrew the alleged comments in exchange for a lead role and a record deal.
“[This is] a malignant allegation against my client that she sold the allegation of sexual harassment in exchange for her own professional and commercial benefit,” her barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC said. The court heard the claim was referenced in malicious smear websites created by a crisis PR firm that attacked Ghost and alleged she was a sex trafficker.
Wilson is accused of ordering The Agency Group to publish the websites but has consistently denied any involvement. She became a client of the crisis management team in July 2024, months after MacInnes allegedly made the complaint, according to evidence given by former The Agency Group employee Katie Case.
Texts between the agency’s staff referred to Wilson as “fucking nuts”, the federal court was told on Tuesday. Case was told by her boss Melissa Nathan in August that Wilson wanted one of “those sites” created.