A key moment looms in a heated legal case as a producer, who doubted the sincerity of a rising star’s account, will soon take the stand. This comes amid a lawsuit involving Rebel Wilson.
Charlotte MacInnes, a 27-year-old actress starring in the musical comedy The Deb, has filed a defamation suit against Wilson.
MacInnes alleges that Wilson defamed her through social media posts, implying she was dishonest and compromised her integrity by rescinding a sexual harassment accusation to further her career.
The social media posts in question suggested MacInnes initially confided in Wilson about feeling uneasy when Amanda Ghost, a co-producer of the film, proposed they take a shower and bath together, but later retracted her statement.
This lawsuit revolves around an incident on September 5, 2023, at Bondi Beach, where Ghost experienced a medical issue, leading to her and MacInnes sharing a bath in their swimwear to help Ghost recover.
MacInnes asserts that she found nothing inappropriate about the situation and denies ever making or recanting a complaint.
Wilson gave evidence she was shocked by the divulgence and informed The Deb’s local producer, Greer Simpkin, who she described as very responsible.
The local producer is set to reveal her recollection of events in the Federal Court today during the final day of the blockbuster defamation battle between the film’s director and star.
Simpkin orchestrated MacInnes’ removal from an apartment where she had been staying with Ghost and others during pre-production, the court was previously told.
The local producer confirmed to Ghost that MacInnes had been asked to leave the apartment days after the complaint had been relayed by Wilson.
“I asked that the reason be as we discussed that Rebel needs the space by the beach,” Simpkin texted.
But when MacInnes learned the real reason for her eviction was the complaint alleged by Wilson, her agent reached out to Simpkin to “mend this misunderstanding”.
She explained MacInnes’ version of events and clarified she had never been uncomfortable with Ghost, whom she respected and idolised.
In the email tendered to the court, the agent said MacInnes had been very upset by the change in the producer’s behaviour and she wanted to resolve the issue expeditiously.
Simpkin forwarded the email to Ghost and noted the young actor’s version of events was different from those of the producer and a witness.
“Charlotte is walking back the statement she made to Rebel,” she wrote.
“I feel there is some fudging being done by Charlotte.”
The local producer is expected to be questioned about what and when she was told about the bath incident and how events unfolded in the aftermath.
The high-profile defamation battle between Wilson and MacInnes is set to conclude today after nine days of heated evidence in which both actors rejected accusations of lying.
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