Rebel Wilson is seeking a Los Angeles judge’s help in deposing an actress in her film “The Deb,” who Wilson says initially reported she had been sexually harassed by one of the producers before rescinding her allegation and returning to London.
Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden originally sued Wilson in July 2024 in Los Angeles Superior Court after the actor posted to her 11 million Instagram followers that the producers of the film, which she directed, had engaged in theft, bullying and sexual misconduct.
Wilson has countersued the plaintiffs, accusing the producers of a “troubling pattern” of “theft, bullying and sexual misconduct” and that they inflated the film’s budget and split the extra money between them.
On Monday, the 45-year-old Australian actress filed court papers with Judge Thomas D. Long asking him to certify for forwarding to the English High Court a “letter of request” regarding United Kingdom resident Charlotte MacInnes, who had a role in “The Deb,” the 2024 film that was Wilson’s directorial debut. MacInnes was forced to shower with Ghost and MacInnes had a breakdown on set following an interaction with Ghost, Wilson’s court papers allege.
MacInnes initially reported to Wilson that Ghost had sexually harassed her, which promoted Wilson to confront all of the producers, according to Wilson’s court papers.
However, MacInnes subsequently rescinded her report of harassment, according to Wilson’s court papers, which further state that whether that harassment actually occurred is central to the case. MacInnes was served with a deposition notice for Oct. 22, but then MacInnes went back to London, Wilson’s court papers state.
MacInnes’ deposition testimony could reveal whether she was pressured to rescind her harassment reports and whether she was bribed to do so, according to Wilson’s court papers.
Last Nov. 21, the judge denied Wilson’s attempt to dismiss the producers’ original defamation suit with an anti-SLAPP motion and his ruling is now on appeal. The state’s anti-SLAPP — Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation — statute is aimed at stopping people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
The judge found that the statements at issue by the 44-year-old Wilson did not involve matters of public interest, but instead were made in the context of the celebrity’s private business dispute with the plaintiffs surrounding the production and premiere of the film.
“The fact that defendant’s statements accuse plaintiff of criminal conduct make them defamatory on their face,” the judge wrote.
The producers’ legal team includes Camille M. Vasquez, who represented Johnny Depp in his dueling litigation with former spouse Amber Heard. Vasquez wrote Ghost’s new countersuit.
Wilson’s film credits include the 2011 comedy films “Bridesmaids” and “A Few Best Men.”
Trial of the case is scheduled Oct. 5, 2026.