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In a notable legal development, an Australian court cleared Hollywood star Rebel Wilson of defamation charges filed against her by young actress Charlotte MacInnes, star of the film 'The Deb', Wilson's directorial debut.

This case comes amid the legal disputes that accompanied the production of 'The Deb', Wilson's first directorial work.

Judge Elizabeth Rieber ruled Wednesday to dismiss the lawsuit filed by MacInnes, accusing Wilson of spreading false information about her to millions of followers on Instagram.

MacInnes justified her lawsuit by claiming the posts exposed her to 'abuse, hatred, and ridicule' online and harmed her career, but Judge Rieber did not agree with her claims.

Wilson claimed in her posts that MacInnes had withdrawn a sexual harassment complaint she had filed against the film's producers in order to advance her career, while MacInnes categorically denies filing any such complaint.

This lawsuit and counterclaim are among serious allegations - including defamation campaigns and embezzlement - raised in multiple cases currently surrounding the production of the Australian film.

The film 'The Deb' is set in a remote Australian town and tells the story of two very different cousins - one from the city and one from the country - who meet before a debutante ball. It was meant to be an inspiring story of success, but its production led to a series of unexpected events.

Wilson told '60 Minutes Australia' last year that the legal storm surrounding the production of her first feature film was a 'terrifying nightmare' and that the problems 'appeared suddenly and without warning'.

In an Instagram post after the verdict on Wednesday, Wilson thanked the judge and the Australian judicial system for the 'big victory' and said she looked forward to moving forward.

'The Deb' premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, and later in Australian cinemas earlier this year, and is scheduled for release in the United States in August.

Previous win in a defamation case

This is not the first time Wilson has been at the center of a prominent defamation case. In 2017, the actress won a defamation lawsuit she filed against publisher 'Bauer Media', which allegedly called her a 'serial liar' in a series of articles published in Australian lifestyle magazines.

The articles alleged that Wilson lied about her name, age, and upbringing in pursuit of fame in Hollywood.

Judge John Dixon said that Bauer Media had not proven the allegations against Wilson.

At that time, she received the highest defamation damages in Australian history, amounting to AUD 4.5 million (USD 3.6 million), but it was later reduced to about USD 450,000 after an appeals court found that the articles did not cause serious harm to her career.

This ruling represents a legal victory for Wilson after a long legal battle she described as a 'nightmare'. 'The Deb' is scheduled for release in the United States next August, which may refocus attention on the film. The case highlights the legal risks of using social media platforms in personal disputes. Other cases related to the film's production remain pending in Australian courts.