Rebel Wilson: Publicist Admits Role in Attack Website Targeting Film Producer
The legal battles surrounding Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb, continue to escalate, with new allegations surfacing regarding the creation of attack websites targeting producer Amanda Ghost. Court documents reveal a former publicist for Wilson admitted to assisting in the development of these sites, adding another layer to the complex web of defamation lawsuits.
Wilson is currently facing defamation claims from both The Deb costar Charlotte MacInnes and producer Amanda Ghost. Ghost initiated legal action in US courts in July 2024, alleging Wilson defamed her by accusing her of “inappropriate behaviour” and “embezzling funds” related to the film’s production. The Australian lawsuit brought by MacInnes is also proceeding, with a hearing scheduled for April, though Wilson’s legal team has indicated potential complications due to a forthcoming family event.
Dispute Over Website Origins
The core of the latest dispute centers on two websites – amandaghost.com and amandaghostsucks.com – which contained damaging allegations against Ghost. Documents filed in a California District Court detail testimony from Katherine Case, a Vice President at public relations firm The Agency Group. Case testified that her boss, Melissa Nathan, relayed a request from Wilson for “one of those sites.” Case’s subsequent actions included editing a Microsoft Word document outlining the website’s content, which included highly critical and inflammatory statements about Ghost, comparing her to Ghislaine Maxwell and referencing convicted felon Boy George.
According to the court filings, the original cross-complaint filed by Wilson against Ghost included hyperlinks to these websites. Case’s deposition reveals she sent an edited version of the document back to Nathan, containing the accusatory language. The document explicitly stated the website was “dedicated to telling the world the truth about Amanda Ghost who has maliciously tried to destroy the lives of countless artists.”
Wilson has consistently denied any involvement in the creation of the websites. Testimony from Nathan, still, appears to support Wilson’s position, contradicting the implication that Wilson actively requested the sites be built.
Ghost, a British music executive and songwriter with credits including James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” and Beyoncé’s “Beautiful Liar,” served as CEO of AI Film, the production company behind The Deb. Wilson has also accused Ghost’s company of deliberately hindering the film’s release, alleging this caused her both reputational and financial harm. A spokesperson for Wilson has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Camille M. Vasquez, a partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter, Hampton, stated on , that the court testimony supports the claim that Wilson was behind the websites. “Rebel Wilson has repeatedly denied any involvement in the creation of the smear websites… We, however, had long suspected that she not only contributed to the malicious sites but that she was the driving force behind them. The evidence we have submitted to the court in California today supports that conclusion.”
Australian Defamation Case to Proceed
Separately, on , Justice Elizabeth Raper of the Federal Court of Australia ruled that the defamation case brought by Charlotte MacInnes against Wilson would not be transferred to the Supreme Court. During the hearing, Wilson’s legal team raised concerns about a potential conflict with an April hearing due to her wife’s impending childbirth.
The Australian lawsuit pits MacInnes, an actress with limited credits, against Wilson, a globally recognized Australian star with a substantial filmography dating back to 2003’s Fat Pizza.