A judge has denied for now a request by Rebel Wilson’s attorneys to depose three producers of Rebel Wilson’s film “The Deb” who are suing her for defamation.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas D. Long ruled that Wilson’s own anti-SLAPP motion filed against Amanda Ghost automatically put all discovery on hold. But the judge said Wilson can have her motion heard after the anti-SLAPP motion is decided.
Alleging new defamatory statements, Ghost has filed a separate defamation action in addition to the one she and fellow producers Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden originally brought against Wilson in Los Angeles Superior Court in July 2024. The underlying original case alleges that Wilson told her 11 million Instagram followers that the producers of the film had engaged in theft, bullying and sexual misconduct. “The Deb” is a 2024 film that was Wilson’s directorial debut.
Wilson, 45, has moved to dismiss Ghost’s individual action on First Amendment grounds and her lawyers wanted to depose Ghost, Cameron and Holden.
“It is error for a court to proceed with a discovery motion on the merits while an anti-SLAPP motion is pending,” the judge wrote.
The anti-SLAPP motion is scheduled for May 5. Wilson will get another chance to obtain the depositions of the plaintiffs during another hearing scheduled June 4.
Wilson has filed a countersuit in the original underlying case that accuses the producers of a “troubling pattern” of “theft, bullying and sexual misconduct” while also contending that they inflated the film’s budget and split the extra money between them.
Nonetheless, in recent court papers, Wilson’s attorneys are optimistic a trial of all the litigation can be avoided.
“Counsel for Wilson remains optimistic that the ongoing hard work put and productive resolution dialogue between Wilson and some of the parties to date will lead to a global resolution of the case,” the actress’ lawyers state in their pleadings.
In November 2024, the judge denied Wilson’s dismissal motion in the producers’ underlying case and his ruling is under appeal.
In both the underlying case and in opposing Ghost’s individual action, Wilson is citing the state’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) statute. The law is aimed at stopping people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights.