Hollywood star’s role in malicious smear website probed
Malicious websites attacking the producer and star of Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut will be the focus of the second day of the blockbuster defamation trial.
The Pitch Perfect star directed, co-produced and starred in The Deb, a musical comedy set in rural NSW that went unaired for two years due to legal disputes.
Co-star Charlotte MacInnes is suing her over social media posts that claim the young actress revealed she was upset with co-producer Amanda Ghost.
MacInnes denies complaining to Wilson and says he was hurt by the older actor’s suggestions that he retract the alleged comments in exchange for a starring role and a record deal.
The allegations were referenced on malicious smear websites attacking Ms Ghost and claiming she was a sex trafficker.
The young actor alleges Wilson directed a US publisher to publish the websites and then shared links with associates of Ghost and MacInnes.
However, the Bridesmaids actress denies any involvement in the creation of the websites and says there is no evidence to support the claim.
The attribution issue will be heard in the Federal Court when former The Agency Group employee Katie Case gives evidence on the second day of the libel hearing on Tuesday.
Text messages tendered to the court appear to reveal his role in creating defamation websites while working for the PR firm run by The Agency Group founder Melissa Nathan.
In messages sent on August 6, 2024, Ms. Nathan says her employee, Wilson, wanted one of “these sites.”
“This might be really harsh… actually making her a lady haha,” he instructed, according to court documents.
After promising to clean things up, Ms. Case replied, “Oh my god hahaha okay this will be fun.”
MacInnes claims the PR firm acted on Wilson’s behalf in publishing the websites detailing the shocking allegations.
A document containing many of the allegations published on the website was created under the name of Wilson’s company, according to MacInnes’ barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC.
He said Wilson’s insistence that he had nothing to do with the smear sites was a “beggar of faith.”
But his barrister, Dauid Sibtain SC, argued it was possible that someone acting on Wilson’s behalf had contacted the firm in the hope of obtaining a more positive narrative.
He said texts between third parties did not prove that the Hollywood actor was involved in creating the websites and that the mere mention of his name could not support that suggestion.
“Websites are a distraction,” Mr Sibtain told the court.
“They don’t actually relate to the critical issue in this case… (which is) that Ms. MacInnes did in fact complain to Ms. Wilson.”
Wilson and MacInnes are expected to appear separately on Tuesday after avoiding eye contact on the first day of the hearing.
Deb was released in Australia in early April after legal issues prevented widespread release following its 2024 premiere.
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