Rebel Wilson secures another court win in The Deb case
An Australian court awarded Rebel Wilson $359,000 plus interest after dismissing most claims brought by the co-producers of The Deb. The producers received $10…
Rebel Wilson secured another court win in a dispute over her film The Deb, with a New South Wales judge awarding the actor $359,000 plus interest. The court dismissed most of the co-producers’ case and awarded them $10 in damages.
Justice Elisabeth Peden of the New South Wales supreme court issued the brief decision on Friday. A written judgment will follow. The ruling marks the latest turn in a series of legal battles surrounding Wilson’s debut film, a musical comedy she directed, co-produced and starred in.
The co-producers had accused Wilson of sabotage, lying and breaching contracts. They alleged that her online statements caused financial and reputational damage to their company and were intended to devalue the film so she could buy it from them. The court awarded the trio $10 and otherwise dismissed their summons.
Wilson denied the allegations and countersued. She claimed the producers’ involvement in the film involved illicit and egregious conduct, including theft, bullying and sexual misconduct. Peden awarded Wilson $359,000 plus interest in a brief decision, with the reasoning still to come in writing.
Dispute over The Deb’s release
Wilson’s co-producers, Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden, alleged her statements online could be linked to the film’s poor performance at the Australian box office. The Guardian reported that The Deb had a budget of A$22m and made $335,000 at the local box office.
In posts from July 2024, Wilson said the producers tried to block the film’s release, embezzled money and behaved inappropriately toward the film’s star. The producers disputed her claims and argued that the statements damaged their business and reputation.
The financial stakes were clear. The co-producers’ case focused on alleged losses and reputational harm, while Wilson’s countersuit resulted in an award of $359,000 plus interest. The court’s $10 damages award to the producers contrasts with the amount awarded to Wilson, though the brief ruling does not yet provide the judge’s full reasoning.
The Deb became the focus of separate legal proceedings in Australia and the United States. Its commercial performance and the competing claims over its production and release have kept the film at the center of the dispute.
Earlier defamation case
This is Wilson’s second court victory connected to the film. Earlier this year, a federal court cleared her of defaming the film’s star, Charlotte MacInnes.
MacInnes had argued that four social media posts implied she was a liar and a sellout who withdrew a sexual harassment complaint to advance her career. Wilson’s posts said MacInnes had confided that she felt uncomfortable after Ghost asked to share a shower and bath with her, then later recanted the account.
MacInnes denied making or withdrawing a complaint. She said she was not uncomfortable when she and Ghost shared a bath in their swimwear after Ghost suffered a medical episode in September 2023. The federal court found that none of Wilson’s posts were defamatory.
The Guardian reported the latest decision; the judge’s written judgment is still to come. The co-producers received $10 in damages.
Source: theguardian.com
