Rebel Wilson has suffered a major blow in her lawsuit against the producers of her film The Deb.
The Australian actress made public accusations about embezzlement, sexual harassment of the film’s lead actor Charlotte MacInnes, bullying over the sexual misconduct claims, and obstruction of the film’s release.
Those producers – Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden – sued the high-profile actor for alleged defamation in California.
The Pitch Perfect star responded with her own lawsuit in which she doubled down on the claims of a ‘troubling pattern of illicit, egregious behaviours, including theft, bullying and sexual misconduct’.
However, a Los Angeles judge this week removed several pages of Wilson’s complaint that accused producer Amanda Ghost of a long history of ‘seedy practices and unethical behaviour,’ according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The publication reported that Judge Thomas Long said many of Wilson’s claims, including an allegation that the producer stole ‘partial ownership’ of the James Blunt song You’re Beautiful, were irrelevant to the case.
Rebel Wilson has suffered a major blow in her lawsuit against the producers of her film The Deb
‘That’s not the kind of stuff I would be letting in at trial,’ the judge said.
‘We do not have time to say, “Let’s go back to the beginning of time, when this person first started their career.”‘
The judge also dismissed Wilson’s allegations as ‘debris that just obscures the real issues in the case’.
The publication reported that much of Wilson’s complaint stemmed from allegations that Ghost had made promises to the actress to secure a commitment to partner with production companies AI Film and Unigram on the yet-to-be released movie.
The alleged promises included a shared writing credit, a record label deal with Warner, an option to sign Australian artists to the label, and ownership rights to the film’s soundtrack.
However, Judge Long dismissed the claims, concluding that Wilson had failed to allege sufficient details about ‘how, when, where, and by what means the representations were made’.
Wilson’s lawyers requested an opportunity to amend the complaint, but the judge said that they had failed to explain any of the proposed amendments.
Six of Wilson’s claims were dismissed, including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, historical misconduct allegations, and breach of contract.
A Los Angeles judge this week removed several pages of Wilson’s complaint that accused producer Amanda Ghost of a long history of ‘seedy practices and unethical behaviour,’ according to The Hollywood Reporter. Pictured: The cast and crew of The Deb on location
The publication reported that Judge Thomas Long said many of Wilson’s claims, including an allegation that Ghost (right) stole ‘partial ownership’ of the James Blunt song You’re Beautiful, were irrelevant to the case. Also pictured: producer Gregor Cameron
The ruling concluded that Ghost, who still faces a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress along with the other producers, wasn’t a party to the oral agreement between Wilson, AI Film and Unigram.
The producers also moved to strike allegations of Ghost’s “extensive history of seedy practices and unethical behaviour”, her ‘highly inappropriate relationship with MacInnes, as well as Cameron’s ‘propensity for physical intimidation and coercive tactics.’
Despite Wilson claiming the allegations were relevant to the case, the court disagreed.
It comes after Wilson suffered another blow in the bitter legal stoush last month when her lawsuit in the US against the companies headed by her co-producers was shut down by the NSW Supreme Court.
‘There is valid concern that not injuncting part of [Wilson’s] cross-complaint risks conflicting findings or inconsistent judgments between the Californian and NSW courts,’ Justice Elisabeth Peden wrote in her judgment.
The blocked claims include allegations that Cameron and Holden embezzled $900,000 from the film’s budget. It also alleges Wilson was forced to sign contracts under duress.
However, the court upheld Wilson’s ability to pursue other legal action in California.
The US case is one of several lawsuits that have erupted after filming wrapped in 2023.
Wilson’s lawyers requested an opportunity to amend the complaint but the judge said that they had failed to explain any of the proposed amendments. Six of Wilson’s claims were dismissed, including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, historical misconduct allegations, and breach of contract
Lead actor MacInnes has sued Wilson in the Federal Court over social media posts which claimed the film’s star revealed she was subjected to sexual harassment.
MacInnes’ denials that any sexual misconduct took place have not deterred Wilson, who has stood by the claims.
Rialto has reportedly acquired distribution rights for The Deb in Australia and New Zealand, with plans for a wide theatrical release in January.
