Rebel Wilson wrote a ‘deranged’ email to a literary agent demanding a writing credit for her new film, slamming the original writer as ‘deluded’ and ‘ungrateful’.
The email was shown to the Federal Court on Monday – the first day of defamation proceedings against Wilson by Charlotte MacInnes, who was the lead actor in musical comedy The Deb, which was directed by Wilson.
MacInnes launched civil proceedings in September after Wilson accused her of complaining about unwanted sexual advances by the film’s senior producer Amanda Ghost following a sunset swim at Bondi Beach.
Wilson has also accused MacInnes of lying about making the complaint because she was then offered a record deal in one of Ghost’s other productions.
MacInnes denies the sexual harassment occurred. She also denies making a complaint to Wilson, and lying about making a complaint in return for a contract.
During opening statements on Monday, MacInnes’ lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC described Wilson as a ‘bully’ who became ‘enraged’ when she didn’t get what she wanted.
As an example, Ms Chrysanthou cited an email where Wilson appeared angry that she was denied a writing credit for The Deb, and had launched a personal attack against the original playwright, Hannah Reilly, who also adapted it for film.
The email was sent on December 22, 2023 – three months after the beach incident – from Wilson’s Camp Sugar company address to the Yellow Creative Management CEO Jean Mostyn, the literary agent representing Ms Reilly.
Rebel Wilson is pictured leaving the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday
Charlotte MacInnis is pictured, right, outside the Federal Court in Sydney with her lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC
Pictured: A mock-up of an email Rebel Wilson sent to a literary agent and CEO who represented The Deb writer, Hannah Reilly
Wilson’s credits for The Deb include actor, director and producer, but she made it clear in the email that she also wanted a writing credit – and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
She slammed Ms Reilly as ‘ungrateful’ for the ‘generosity’ Wilson had shown, telling Ms Mostyn the film would never have been funded if Ms Reilly was the sole writer.
‘We were being generous to Hannah by sharing the significant improvements made to the project since she had worked on it, including multiple new songs, which is not something commonly done,’ Wilson wrote.
‘This generosity led to her b***hing about myself and the financiers to cast members which was highly disappointing and completely disrespectful.’
Wilson claimed Ms Reilly had been ‘difficult to work with’ and had been ‘extremely ungrateful for the opportunity that has been given to her’.
‘She has a history of not valuing others’ creative inputs which is against everything I stand for. It is also, quite frankly, deluded.
‘If it was unclear about my personal feelings towards your client, I hope this email gives you some clarity.’
Wilson signed the email off by saying: ‘Merry Christmas!’
Rebel Wilson is pictured with Hannah Reilly at The Deb theatre premier on April 22, 2022
The Deb writer Hannah Reilly (pictured outside court, right) was cross-examined on Monday
In court on Monday, Ms Chrysanthou said the emailed showed that ‘…Ms Wilson wants to be credited as the writer of this script, she is desperate for this credit.
‘She becomes enraged when Hannah Reilly does not agree to it, and to that point, she sends a shocking email to Hannah’s agent on December 22.’
Ms Chrysanthou described the email as ‘abusive’ and ‘threatening’, and a demonstration of ‘how professionally she behaves’.
She said it was a ‘deranged letter making wild allegations’, and the writing credit was actually a copyright issue.
Ms Reilly was cross-examined in court on Monday.
She told the court Wilson did work on the script, but that Wilson asked for a larger credit than she was owed.
Earlier, Ms Chrysanthou said the situation unfolded on September 5, 2023, when MacInnes and Ghost went to Bondi Beach for a swim.
Ms Chrysanthou told the court Ghost had a flare-up of a rare condition called cold urticaria, which causes hives or swelling after exposure to cold air or water.
Charlotte MacInnes (pictured) played the character Maeve in Wilson’s film, The Deb
Pictured: Rebel Wilson and Charlotte MacInnes (together, centre) at a party hosted by Wilson
MacInnes took Ghost back to their rented Bondi penthouse where they shared a hot bath in their swimwear.
Ms Chrysanthou told the court their skin didn’t touch, they both wore swimming costumes at the time, and they sat with another woman afterwards and drank chamomile tea and hot chocolate.
Wilson claims MacInnes made a sexual harassment complaint to her over the bathtub situation, and then lied about it. MacInnes denies any harassment or complaint took place.
Wilson’s lawyer Dauid Sibtain SC told the court there was no dispute Ghost and MacInnes bathed together – the dispute was whether MacInnes felt uncomfortable bathing with Ghost, who was her boss.
‘They were both wearing their bathing costumes, but Ms MacInnes might have felt some discomfort bathing with her boss,’ he said.
‘A boss bathing with their employee is not the best practice, even if Ms Ghost was recovering from a medical episode, but it’s a position a young employee might not feel comfortable in.’
He alleged MacInnes told Wilson that Ghost asked her to take a bath and a shower with her, but later said she never made the complaint because she ‘knew’ Ghost ‘could make her dreams come true’ by helping her land lead roles.
The court case continues.