Sydney – Allegations made by Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson that a young Australian performer was sexually harassed and later concealed the incident to advance her career have been described as “malicious concoctions” in a Sydney court, as a high-profile defamation trial began.

The case centres on Wilson’s public statements about actress Charlotte MacInnes, who appears in Wilson’s film The Deb. In social media posts published in 2024 and 2025, Wilson claimed MacInnes felt “uncomfortable” after sharing a bath with a female producer, and later withdrew a harassment complaint in exchange for career opportunities. MacInnes denies ever making such a complaint.

MacInnes is suing for defamation, arguing that Wilson’s statements damaged her reputation for honesty and integrity.

On the first day of proceedings, the court examined private messages and emails between Wilson, producer Amanda Ghost, and MacInnes.

The alleged incident occurred on 5 September 2023 after MacInnes and Ghost went swimming at Bondi Beach. Ghost reportedly suffered an allergic reaction known as cold urticaria, causing severe discomfort.

The court heard that the pair later returned to Ghost’s apartment, where MacInnes prepared a hot bath. Both women later entered the bath while wearing swimsuits. MacInnes’ legal team described it as “oversized,” and stated the two were not in physical contact. Ghost’s assistant was also present in the bathroom for part of the time.

MacInnes’ lawyers told the court she never made a formal complaint about the incident to Wilson. However, Wilson allegedly later raised concerns with Ghost after speaking to MacInnes, claiming the actress had felt uncomfortable.

A text message shown in court from Wilson to Ghost read: “Charlotte says all good. She just meant ‘it was a bizarre situation’ not that she personally felt uncomfortable.”

MacInnes’ legal team argued that Wilson later used the incident as leverage in a broader dispute over the film’s production and contracts.

Sue Chrysanthou SC, representing MacInnes, told the court the allegations of misconduct and career manipulation were “completely false, fantasy, malicious concoctions.”

Wilson’s lawyer, David Sibtain, rejected the claims, arguing that MacInnes had denied making the complaint to protect her career prospects and maintain professional relationships with producers.

He also told the court that MacInnes’ career had since progressed, citing her lead role in a theatre production in the United States and recent music releases.

“She has suffered no harm to her reputation,” Sibtain said, adding that MacInnes had aligned herself with the producers’ version of events to advance her career.

The court also examined Wilson’s Instagram post from September 2024, in which she suggested MacInnes’ casting in major projects and a record deal demonstrated why she had allegedly changed her account of events.

MacInnes, who graduated from a Western Australian acting academy in 2021, plays a lead role in The Deb, a musical comedy set in the Australian outback. The film was released in Australia this month.

Wilson, known for her role in Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids, is currently involved in multiple legal disputes, including another Australian case involving alleged contract breaches related to the film, as well as a separate defamation-related case in the United States.