Rebel Wilson has revealed details of an alleged “hate club” dedicated to a producer at the centre of her blockbuster defamation trial.
The Bridesmaids actor is being sued by Charlotte MacInnes, her co-star in her directorial debut The Deb, over a series of social media posts that allegedly implied the younger actor walked back a sexual harassment complaint against one of the film’s producers, Amanda Ghost.
Ms Wilson on Wednesday claimed there is a “fan club” dedicated to hating on Ms Ghost which sends her information about the producer.
“There’s a group of people that are called the ‘I hate Amanda Ghost fan club’ and they send me information, they send my wife information,” Ms Wilson told the court.
The group, comprised of “various people who have had disputes with Ms Ghost”, sends Ms Wilson screenshots of information when they spot the producer with Ms MacInnes, the Hollywood actor claimed in court.
“It’s not an actual fan club … (the term is) used ironically,” Ms Wilson said.
She added she is not a member of the “club”.
The revelation came after Ms MacInnes’ barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, pressed her on how she knew about Ms MacInnes’ travel between 2023 and 2026.
She denied hiring an investigator to collect information about the young actor.
Rebel opens up on ‘nightmare situation’: court
The Pitch Perfect star denied suggestions she “made up” a narrative to divide Ms MacInnes and Ms Ghost as she was quizzed about the alleged complaint during her second day in the witness box on Wednesday.
“This is a nightmare situation, to have the financial producer living with and having a bath and shower with a young actress … and that actress comes to me and tells me that five weeks before shooting,” Ms Wilson told the trial.
“It is an absolute nightmare situation for me, who’s a first time director, making a movie that is essentially a girl power movie.”
She branded claims from Ms Chrysanthou that it was a “nightmare situation you created through a series of lies” as “nonsensical”.
“I worked for years (on the film) … it would not at all be in my interest to make up a sexual harassment complaint between those two very important people,” Ms Wilson replied.
It comes after the actor on Tuesday said she was “shocked” by Ms MacInnes’ alleged complaint, telling the court that it was “the worst thing that could have fallen into my lap at that point”, as they were weeks out from shooting.
“I took it as sexual harassment complaint … I’ve worked for years on this movie, we’re weeks out from shooting, and this is such a fun girl power movie,” Ms Wilson said on Tuesday.
“And the worst thing that could have fallen into my lap at that point is a sexual harassment complaint.”
She also took the chance to deny suggestions she “mistreated women” during the production of The Deb, maintaining she regards herself as a “champion of women”.
Ms Wilson thanked The Deb cast and crew for their support as she walked into the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday morning.
“Because I have such respect for the legal process I am not allowed to comment about anything whilst the trial is continuing, but yeah thanks everybody for being here,” Ms Wilson said outside court.
“Thanks to everybody, but particularly The Deb cast and crew who have been supporting me through this.”
At the centre of the case is a bath Ms Ghost and Ms MacInnes shared in September 2023 at the producer’s penthouse in Bondi, with both women wearing swimmers to warm up in the bath after the producer suffered a medical episode following a sunset swim at Bondi Beach.
The Hollywood actor alleges Ms MacInnes told her that she was uncomfortable with the bath incident but later withdrew the complaint to further her career, but Ms MacInnes denies ever making a complaint.
