Rebel hired security amid fight over directorial debut
Adelaide Lang |
Aussie actor Rebel Wilson says she hired personal security because she felt “so shaken” by a dispute with the co-producers of her directorial debut that arose out of an alleged complaint of sexual harassment.
The Pitch Perfect star directed, co-produced and acted in The Deb, a musical comedy set in rural NSW that remained unreleased for two years due to legal disputes.
She is being sued by lead actor, Charlotte MacInnes, over social media posts claiming the young actor complained she had felt uncomfortable with co-producer Amanda Ghost.
MacInnes denies making the complaint to Wilson and says she has been harmed by the older actor’s suggestions she withdrew the alleged comments in exchange for a lead role and a record deal.
“(This is) a malignant allegation against my client that she sold the allegation of sexual harassment in exchange for her own professional and commercial benefit,” her barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC said.
The complaint was raised by Wilson with Ms Ghost’s husband and The Deb co-producer, Gregor Cameron, during a production meeting in October 2023.
He denied knowing any of the details about the alleged complaint and resisted suggestions he was being untruthful in the Federal Court on Tuesday.
Mr Cameron rejected Wilson’s account that he had told her production would be shut down until a range of issues – including addressing the alleged complaint – were resolved.
He batted away suggestions from Wilson’s barrister Dauid Sibtain SC that his relationship with the Bridesmaids star had broken down, calling it a “strong term to use”.
The co-producer said he was not aware Wilson had hired personal security because she felt “so shaken by the state of their relationship”, as put to him by Mr Sibtain.
The meeting came more than a month after the alleged complaint, which theatrical producer Carmen Pavlovic said had left her friend Ms Ghost feeling blindsided.
She recounted how Ms Ghost had a medical episode at Bondi Beach in September 2023 and was assisted by MacInnes, who ended up sharing a bath with her in their swimmers.
Ms Ghost seemed angry and very upset with MacInnes after Wilson claimed the young actor had complained about feeling uncomfortable, Ms Pavlovic said.
The producer and Wilson suggested MacInnes might be “trouble making” but Ms Pavlovic advocated for an investigation and proper processes to ensure the young actor felt heard.
“I was concerned things could blow up if they weren’t properly clarified,” she told the court.
The sexual misconduct complaint was referenced in malicious smear websites created by a crisis PR firm that attacked Ms Ghost and alleged without basis she was a sex trafficker.
Wilson is accused of ordering The Agency Group to publish the websites but has consistently denied any involvement.
She became a client of the crisis management team in July 2024, according to former The Agency Group employee Katie Case.
Texts between the agency’s employees referred to the Bridesmaids actor as “f***ing nuts”.
Ms Case was told by her boss Melissa Nathan in August that Wilson wants one of “those sites” created.
“It can be really really harsh … making her a madam basically lol,” Ms Nathan instructed, per the court documents.
“Oh my god, lol, ok this one will be fun,” Ms Case replied.
The PR employee was provided with a “fully drafted” word document of what was wanted for the website, which she edited and supplemented with content suggested by her colleagues.
Ms Case had no idea who authored the document but metadata later revealed it had been created under the name of Wilson’s company, she told the court.
However, she accepted anyone could have written or edited the document under that name before it was sent to her.
The PR agent had never met or spoken to Wilson, she told the court.
The hearing continues on Wednesday.
AAP