There is now more legal trouble circling Rebel Wilson’s film The Deb, this time levelled by its lead actress Charlotte MacInnes in response to claims of inappropriate behaviour on set.
MacInnes, who portrayed the character of Maeve in Wilson’s directorial debut, was roped into the drama last year, when Wilson claimed on social media that the actress was subjected to “inappropriate behaviour” while working on the comedy musical film.
Per news.com.au, Wilson alleged on her Instagram Stories that The Deb’s producers — Vincent Holden, Gregor Cameron, and Amanda Ghost — had “bad behaviour” towards “the lead actor of the film”.
When MacInnes then denied receiving any inappropriate behaviour on set, Wilson allegedly accused her of “changing her story” in another post on her Instagram page.
“When an actor on her first feature film is asked by a producer to stay in the same apartment as them, and then makes a complaint to me as the director saying said producer ‘asked her to have a bath and shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable’ – what am I supposed to do of course I reported it,” Wilson wrote, per news.com.au.
Wilson alleged MacInnes backtracked on her claims against producers in order to land another acting role.
“The fact that this girl has been employed now by this ‘producer’ in the lead role of a production … should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story,” Wilson claimed.
While MacInnes had already denied Wilson’s claims about inappropriate behaviour — telling media outlets last year “there is no truth to the allegations made involving me” — she has now reportedly hired a legal team and issued a concerns notice.
In Australia, a concerns notice is the first step in defamation proceedings, and aims to resolve disputes without court action.
According to news.com.au, MacInnes’ concerns notice states that Wilson’s social media comments “cruelled her professional reputation” and “cast her in a particularly negative light”.
The actress’ notice also claimed Wilson identified her as “an alleged victim of sexual harassment without her consent” and “accus[ed] her of lying about it”.
“Ms MacInnes claims general damages, aggravated damages, and costs, as well as a permanent injunction to restrain you from publishing the defamatory imputations about her or anything similar in the future,” the concerns notice read.
It’s one of multiple legal dramas surrounding Wilson in relation to The Deb.
In the US, Wilson is being sued by the film’s producers for the claims of inappropriate behaviour, as well her allegations that producers embezzled funds from the film.
Meanwhile, in Australia, Wilson was accused in a lawsuit filed by The Deb’s production company, A.I Film, of spreading false information online to “deliberately undermine” the film’s release.
Wilson responded to that lawsuit last month, saying it “makes no sense” and describing the allegations she undermined the movie as “complete nonsense”.
Lead images: Dave Benett/Getty Images and Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
