Rebel Wilson is detailing a series of allegations-including embezzlement and sexual harassment-surrounding her directorial debut, *Teh Deb*, in a newly released interview with *60 Minutes Australia*. The actress alleges a contentious battle with U.K. producers, claiming retaliation after she reported concerns about inappropriate behavior and financial improprieties on set , leading to defamation lawsuits from both sides. *The Deb* is scheduled for wide release in Australia and New Zealand in January following a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Rebel Wilson is detailing a challenging experience surrounding her directorial debut, The Deb, revealing a series of lawsuits and allegations that she describes as a “worst nightmare.”
In a recent interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Wilson recounted how issues with the film arose unexpectedly and created a difficult professional situation. “It came out of left field these issues and yeah it was horrible to deal with and I had to try to navigate it professionally,” she said.
The Deb, an adaptation of an Australian stage play, follows a city woman who relocates to the outback to help her cousin prepare for her debutante ball. The 60 Minutes Australia crew had previously visited the set during filming, noting at the time that production appeared to be running smoothly. However, Wilson alleges that the day before their visit, she and local producers were “locked in a room” and “forced to sign documents.”
Wilson claims the drama stemmed from the U.K. producers involved in the film, and that she became a target of “incessant bullying and harassment” after speaking out about their “behavior.” She initially reported concerns last year, stating she’d discovered “not minor things, big things” related to “inappropriate behavior towards the lead actress of the film,” Charlotte MacInnes, and the misuse of movie funds. Last summer, Wilson publicly accused producers Amanda Ghost, Gregory Cameron and Vince Holden of embezzlement and sexual harassment via a video posted to Instagram.
“I felt, in my position as director, I had to report that and the moment I did started all the kind of retaliation against me,” Wilson explained. She recalled MacInnes telling her that producer Amanda Ghost made her feel “uncomfortable” after asking her to share a “bath and shower” with her following Ghost’s reaction to cold water during a shoot at Bondi Beach.
However, MacInnes has since denied Wilson’s account and filed a defamation lawsuit against the actress.
Wilson maintains she was acting on a legitimate complaint. “All I can say is she came to me, she made what I obviously inferred as a sexual harassment complaint and I had a duty to then act on it,” Wilson said. She also clarified that despite texting Ghost to confirm MacInnes had described the situation as “bizarre” and not upsetting, she was attempting to “maintain professional communication” with the producer, given her “access to money for the film.”
“But at the same time, I’m feeling very uneasy,” Wilson added.
The actress also alleges the U.K. producers attempted to divert nearly a million dollars from the film’s budget and blocked the film’s premiere at the 2024 International Film Festival. Wilson argues their claim that they couldn’t release the film due to ongoing issues with her was “absolute rubbish,” asserting that “they knew it would be good for me as a first-time female director to have that profile and they blocked it as part of their retaliation against me speaking up against them.”
Wilson previously voiced these concerns on social media, stating she was “standing up for my movie and the hard work that everybody put into it for years.”
The producers eventually allowed the film to be shown at TIFF. However, they subsequently sued Wilson for defamation, alleging she fabricated claims in an attempt to secure a coveted closing spot for The Deb at the festival and obtain a writing credit. Wilson responded with a countersuit, reaffirming her accusations of theft and misconduct.
Wilson also addressed the emergence of websites portraying Ghost as a “sex trafficker,” stating she had “zero to do with the websites” and doesn’t know how to create one. When questioned about allegations that she directed her followers to the sites, posted about them on The Deb’s Instagram account, and alerted Ghost’s associates, Wilson said, “I don’t have any memory of doing that, no.”
“It’s wild it’s gotten to this point,” Wilson said of the ongoing legal battles. “I think it’s a ridiculous waste of the Australian legal system.”
Regarding MacInnes, Wilson reiterated that she didn’t initially reveal the actress’s name and that MacInnes chose to come forward and identify herself. Wilson also responded to a post from MacInnes alleging Wilson altered her story to advance her career, pointing out that MacInnes has since landed a lead role in another production and signed with a record label, both connected to a producer of The Deb.
“I believe her only work since The Deb was a role in a stage show that Amanda Ghost produced,” Wilson explained. While acknowledging MacInnes’s talent, Wilson argues that “it’s undeniable the benefits she has received since finishing filming the film.”
“This is a situation where I was a whistleblower. I stood up when it was important to stand up and say something,” Wilson concluded.
Rialto Distribution has acquired the rights for The Deb in Australia and New Zealand, with a wide theatrical release planned for January. The film’s tumultuous journey to the screen underscores the complexities of navigating power dynamics and speaking out within the entertainment industry.
