Rebel Wilson’s legal mess over ‘The Deb’ just got harsher, with court testimony now dragging in the PR team allegedly tied to the ugly online campaign against producer Amanda Ghost.
During the Sydney defamation trial brought by ‘The Deb’ actress Charlotte MacInnes, the court heard that staff at The Agency Group allegedly referred to Wilson as “crazy” in internal texts while handling requests connected to websites attacking Ghost. Wilson has denied any role in creating or directing those sites, but the claim adds another messy layer to a case already packed with accusations, denials, and behind-the-scenes bad blood.
Court Hears Rebel Wilson Was Described as ‘Crazy’ in PR Messages
MacInnes is suing Wilson over Instagram posts in which the actress claimed MacInnes had complained about Ghost after the two shared a bath in 2023. MacInnes denies that account and says Wilson’s posts defamed her.
As part of the case, MacInnes’ lawyers have accused Wilson of using U.S. crisis publicist Melissa Nathan of The Agency Group to help push websites that targeted Ghost. Wilson has denied that outright, previously saying in a U.S. court that she played no role in conceiving, planning, registering, directing, creating, writing, or posting the content.
Still, the trial heard more detail about how one of those sites allegedly came together. According to testimony from former Agency Group employee Katie Case, she was given a fully drafted document setting out what was wanted for a harsh website about “Amanda.” She said she did not know who wrote it. Metadata reportedly showed the document was created under the name Camp Sugar, Wilson’s production company, though Case accepted that did not prove Wilson authored it.
The court also heard that internal texts between Agency Group staff referred to Wilson as “crazy,” a detail that instantly sharpened attention around the alleged smear effort.
The Bath Incident Remains the Core of the Case
Wilson’s barrister, Dauid Sibtain, argued that the Ghost websites are a distraction and said the real issue is whether MacInnes actually made a complaint to Wilson.
That complaint centers on an incident in September 2023, after Ghost and MacInnes had been swimming at Bondi Beach in Sydney. According to MacInnes’ side, Ghost suffered cold urticaria, a condition that can trigger a severe reaction to cold water. The court heard that Ghost developed hives and was shaking badly, and that MacInnes helped her back to an apartment, where the two bathed together in swimsuits to help warm Ghost up.
Wilson has claimed MacInnes later told her the incident made her uncomfortable, and further alleged that MacInnes later changed her account after receiving career opportunities from Ghost. MacInnes denies that and is suing over four Instagram posts, including one from September 2024 in which Wilson suggested MacInnes had changed her story after getting cast in a Gatsby stage production and receiving a record deal.
MacInnes’ barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, has told the court Wilson acted like a bully by attacking MacInnes on Instagram. The case is continuing before Justice Elizabeth Raper.
