Rebel Wilson Defamation Lawsuit Continues

If you love lighthearted comedies, you probably have caught a lot of Rebel Wilson. The Aussie actor paved her way into Hollywood with her performances in Bridesmaids and Isn’t It Romantic, and perhaps most famously, for her portrayal of Fat Amy in the Pitch Perfect films.

Often typecast into roles of the overweight sidekick, Wilson embraced her characters with hilarious self-depreciation on screen. But in real life, she, well, rebelled. She’s been a vocal advocate for body positivity and self-acceptance, promoting a healthy and realistic body image, speaking openly about her own struggles with weight and body image, and encouraging fans to focus on inner beauty and self-love.

Soon enough, the talented and successful star was able to go beyond just acting and into directing. Last year, Wilson directed her first film, a musical titled The Deb. But just months before its premiere, the actor-director found herself in some legal trouble, a court saga that continues to follow her to this day. Let’s go back to 2023.

Debut or Deb-acle?

Working on Wilson’s film were, of course, many experienced professionals in the film industry: award-winning songwriter and music executive Amanda Ghost, her partner and film producer Gregor Cameron, and veteran executive producer Vince Holden. These three filed a lawsuit in California state court against Wilson this past July, centering around issues of writing credit and defamation by Wilson.

The Deb was based on a screenplay by Hannah Reilly, adapted from a stage play with music by Megan Washington. Reilly was the recipient of a scholarship award developed and granted by Rebel Wilson, and as part of that program, she developed the script for the film. The Deb was to be her writing debut.

Rebel Wilson was contracted to direct and act in the film. She was also involved in additional writing but was not promised writing credit. According to the plaintiffs, Rebel Wilson disputed the writing credit awarded to Hannah Reilly by the Australian Writers' Guild (AWG), which had determined the credits for the film. Rebel rejected the AWG's decision and demanded writing credit.

The film was selected to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, but disputes and Rebel's actions reportedly jeopardized its release and marketing.

Rebel Without a Cause?

On July 10, 2024, Wilson posted a video on her Instagram page to her 11 million followers, containing the defamatory statements in question. It’s a really long video with a long transcript, but here are some key outtakes:

• “[T]o have the business partners that are involved in that movie turn around and say that no, the movie can’t premiere, is just beyond devastating”
• “And so I said, reported, I guess you would say, their bad behavior when I found out not minor things, big things, you know, inappropriate behavior towards the lead actress of the film, embezzling funds from the film’s budget, which we really needed because we’re a small movie, you know? So kind of really important things. Since I reported that behavior, I have been met with absolute viciousness and retaliatory behavior.”
• “And yet every step of the way, these people who I complained about then tried to make my life hell.”
• “And this behavior is absolutely vile and disgusting. Now these people you know, Amanda Ghost in particular, has a history of doing this kind of thing, mainly to music artists but also to people in the film business. So, the thing is, these people are forced to sign NDAs or, you know, otherwise threatened or bullied to not speak out.”
• “I will speak the truth, and, you know, warn people about these people in the industry. Who are just not behaving ethically…If the movie doesn’t play at Toronto, it’s because of these absolute f*ckwits.”

Defamation Complaint Against Wilson

The plaintiffs alleged in their legal complaint that these were false allegations that Wilson used her social media platform to spread to her millions of followers, causing harm to the plaintiffs' reputations. Separately, Wilson allegedly fabricated false stories about the plaintiffs, including accusations of sexual harassment and embezzlement, to gain leverage in business disputes related to the film.

The plaintiffs claim that Wilson's actions and false statements were intended to intimidate the plaintiffs and force them to concede to her demands. Their complaint alleges that the defamatory statements were made to industry professionals and her 11 million Instagram followers, causing significant harm to the plaintiffs' reputations and careers. The plaintiffs seek damages for the harm caused by Rebel's statements, including reputational damage, emotional distress, and potential financial losses.

Court Keeps Lawsuit Alive

Wilson’s legal team filed a special motion to strike under the anti-SLAPP statute, which is designed to protect free speech and petition rights in matters of public interest. But last Thursday, the LA superior court judge issued a tentative order indicating that he would deny that motion.

The court found that Wilson's statements did not qualify as protected activities under the anti-SLAPP statute. The statements in question were made in a video on Instagram and a demand letter allegedly transmitted to the media. The court determined that the statements were part of a private business dispute and not related to a public interest issue.

This means that, for now, the plaintiffs can proceed in their litigation against Wilson. Whether or not the case will make it through trial or settle instead remains to be seen.

Related Resources:

• Songwriter Tips for Copyright, Credit, and Royalties (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
• Libel, Slander, and Defamation Law: The Basics (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
• Kevin Hart's Lawsuit for Defamation Against Gossipy YouTuber and Former Assistant Proceeds (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)