Rebel Wilson enters the witness box to give evidence at Charlotte MacInnes' defamation trial against her: Live coverage

By CHARLOTTE KARP, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Rebel Wilson has been called to give evidence in a defamation case against her by the lead actor in her directorial debut, The Deb.  Charlotte MacInnes launched civil proceedings after Wilson accused her of complaining about unwanted sexual advances by the film's senior producer Amanda Ghost following a sunset swim at Bondi Beach. Wilson has also accused MacInnes of lying about making the complaint because she was then offered a record deal in one of Ghost's other productions. MacInnes denies the sexual harassment occurred. She also denies making a complaint and lying about making a complaint in return for a contract. Follow Daily Mail's live coverage. Rebel Wilson appeared confused on the witness stand on Tuesday morning. Charlotte MacInnes' lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC immediately hit her with a barrage of questions over her treatment of women during the making of The Deb. The Pitch Perfect actor told the court she was a 'champion of women' who had never launched criticism against her female colleagues. Ms Chrysanthou pointed out that Wilson had launched significant criticism at MacInnes and The Deb's producer Amanda Ghost. Wilson agreed she had criticised those women on social media, but she said those claims were 'true'. Asked whether she recalled making negative statements about MacInnes and Ghost to others, Wilson said she couldn't remember. She also couldn't remember giving statements about the defamation proceedings to the press, nor could she remember texting someone about The Deb's original writer, Hannah Reilly, saying 'she can go f*** herself'. Wilson then told the court she could not recall whether she had previously been sued for defamation for identifying the wrong journalist in a social media post, she said 'I can't recall'. 'Ms Wilson, do you have a good memory?' Ms Chrysanthou asked. 'I would say I have a normal memory,' Wilson replied. Ms Chrysanthou said: 'Then why don't you remember being sued for defamation?' Wilson settled a defamation case for $120,000 for launching a social media tirade against freelance Australian journalist Elizabeth Wilson in 2016. 'If your name is Elizabeth Wilson and you work for ACP Magazines, just know that you are a disgrace for harassing my sweet, sick grandma,' Wilson wrote on Twitter. She then posted a photo of another Elizabeth Wilson who worked at the same company. Rebel Wilson smiled as she walked into the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday. She will be cross-examined for two days by Charlotte MacInnes' barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC. Wilson is represented by Dauid Sibtain SC. The trial is being livestreamed on the court's YouTube page. More than 1100 people were watching the livestream from 10.30am, before Wilson was called to the witness box. Rebel Wilson is being sued for defamation in the Federal Court by Charlotte MacInnes - the lead actor in musical comedy The Deb, which was directed by Wilson. MacInnes launched legal proceedings in September after a series of Instagram posts where Wilson accused her of complaining about unwanted sexual advances by producer Amanda Ghost, and then lying about it to get a record contract. MacInnes denies the sexual assault occurred, that she complained about it to Wilson, and that she retracted it in return for another lead role and the record deal. The situation unfolded when MacInnes and Ghost had a sunset swim at Bondi Beach on September 5, 2023. Ghost had a flare-up of a rare condition called cold urticaria, which causes hives or swelling after exposure to cold air or water. MacInnes took her back to their rented Bondi penthouse and ran a hot bath. MacInnes got in the bath with Ghost. They were both wearing swimming costumes. Wilson claims MacInnes felt uncomfortable about bathing with Ghsot, who was her boss at the time, and made a complaint to Wilson. MacInnes says she never felt uncomfortable about the bath and denies making a complaint. According to MacInnes' statement of claim, Wilson's posts accused her of lying about sexual assault and blocking the film's release, and portraying her as selfishly prioritising her own career over cast and crew who worked on The Deb. She claims Wilson's social media posts damaged her professional reputation and created doubts about her trustworthiness before she played her first lead role in a film. MacInnes is seeking aggravated damages for serious harm caused, as well as a court order preventing Wilson from repeating the claims online. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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