Rebel Wilson has labelled an alleged sexual harassment complaint during the production of The Deb movie in September 2023 as a “nightmare situation” for her, the Federal Court heard on Wednesday.

Wilson’s co-star in the film, MacInnes, 26, is suing the Pitch Perfect star over a series of Instagram posts she alleges implies that she retracted a sexual harassment complaint against one of the film’s producers, Amanda Ghost.

MacInnes denies a sexual harassment complaint was made on September 6, 2023, and alleges Wilson only raised the complaint after she fell out with movie producer Ghost and others about The Deb’s production and budget.

The complaint is alleged to have been made after MacInnes and Ghost shared a bath at a Bondi Beach apartment on September 5, 2023, to recover from a cold ocean swim.

Wilson claimed the alleged complaint about being sexually harassed was a “nightmare situation” for her as a co-producer of the movie, which is why she eventually chose to reference it on Instagram.

“That’s a nightmare situation for a young actress to have a bath and shower with a producer,” said Wilson.

“It’s a nightmare situation because you created it through a series of lies,” said Sue Chrysanthou, SC for MacInnes.

“That’s nonsensical” replied Wilson. “It’s nonsensical that it would be in my interest to make up a sexual harassment complaint,” she said.

The actress later told the court she posted about the alleged complaint on Instagram as it was true and she felt she had a duty to, in part, due to workplace laws.

Accused of being annoyed at actress

Earlier in the morning, Wilson denied she was annoyed at MacInnes at the time of the complaint as she suspected the actress was leaking information about the musical comedy’s production to its original writer Hannah Reilly.

“Do you remember being very annoyed, very annoyed with Ms MacInnes on the evening of September 5 about something to do with giving information to (The Deb writer) Hannah Reilly?” asked Ms Chrysanthou.

“No, I remember there were concerns about people leaking information to Hannah Reilly, which had caused her to be agitated and obtain a lawyer,” replied Wilson.

“But didn’t you complain on September 5 that you had discovered that person was Charlotte MacInnes?” said Ms Chrysanthou.

“I don’t recall that,” replied Wilson.

“Do you recall also at the time that you claimed to believe Charlotte MacInnes was the leak that you suggested she do fewer lines in the songs?” asked Ms Chrysanthou.

“No I don’t remember that,” replied Wilson.

“What happened, Ms Wilson, is that on the evening of September 5 you were annoyed with Ms MacInnes and suggested to PR Pia Ashcroft in a telephone call that some of the lines singing in songs should be given to one or more of the other girls?” Ms Chrysanthou said.

“I have no memory of that,” replied Wilson.

Wilson denies her September 2024 Instagram posts about the disputed complaint were defamatory. Wilson also claims it’s true that MacInnes made a verbal complaint to her on September 6, 2023, the day after the Bondi Beach swim that has spiralled into a two-week Federal Court trial.

The Deb movie is a musical comedy that was released in April 2026 in Australian cinemas. It’s the directorial debut of Wilson, who co-stars in it alongside MacInnes.

MacInnes is seeking aggravated damages for the lowering of her professional reputation based on Wilson’s Instagram posts, as well as a court order preventing Wilson from repeating the allegedly defamatory claims online.

Disputed movie budget

On Wednesday, Wilson also insisted British movie producer and songwriter Amanda Ghost was involved in controlling the budget during the making of the film The Deb.

Later in the morning, Ms Chrysanthou suggested to Wilson it wasn’t correct that Ghost refused to hand over a budget for The Deb movie with regard to allegations that $900,000 was embezzled from it.

“Ms Ghost was not party to the budget discussions or the contract discussions, was she?” said Ms Chrysanthou for MacInnes.

“She definitely was, she’s the chairwoman of (move production company) AI Film. She saw (British finance executive) Vince Holden as her employee so she was the boss in terms of talking about the budget,” replied Wilson.

Cannot recall being sued

On Wednesday, the Federal Court also heard Wilson didn’t recall being sued by Daily Mail journalist Elizabeth Wilson in a separate defamation case in 2016.

“In February 2016 you called (former Daily Mail journalist) Elizabeth Wilson ‘scum’ or ‘total scum’ and said she harassed or verbally abused your grandmother and you said she’s an asshole,” said Sue Chrysanthou SC for MacInnes.

Wilson told the court she could not recall details around the matter, or being sued.

“My memory is that there was just a demands letter,” Wilson said in response.

“I just remember never going to court or anything and the matter settled.”

Wilson later said it was an innocent mistake in identifying the wrong woman named Elizabeth Wilson in 2016 and she subsequently offered an apology.

The case is expected to conclude on Friday. Justice Elizabeth Raper, overseeing the case will provide a ruling at an undetermined time in the future.