Young actor Charlotte MacInnes has denied she received considerable help from star British songwriter Amanda Ghost to further her career, which included a late-night trip to the Cannes super-yacht of billionaire Warner Brothers chairman Sir Len Blavatnik in 2023.
MacInnes is suing movie star Rebel Wilson in the Federal Court for defamation alleging a series of Instagram posts by Wilson damaged her reputation by suggesting she made a sexual harassment complaint against Ghost during the production of The Deb movie.
MacInnes denies she made the complaint, and Wilson’s claim she retracted it to further her musical career with Ghost’s support.
“Was it Ms Ghost who made the suggestion to go back to Sir Len [Blavatnik’s] super-yacht, or was it Sir Len? Or was it both of them?” asked Dauid Sibtain for Wilson on Thursday morning.
“I don’t recall,” replied MacInnes.
“But the suggestion was communicated that you and Ms Ghost and Sir Len should go back to the super-yacht?” asked Sibtain.
“And Mr Cameron [Ghost’s husband],” replied MacInnes.
“And on the yacht you played the piano and sang some originals and some covers,” said Mr Sibtain. “You’ve described that as an incredible opportunity and it was, wasn’t it. You were getting a one-on-one showcase opportunity with the chairman of Warner Music. And you’ve done that showcase”
“Yes,” replied MacInnes.
Wilson argues that MacInnes denied making a complaint about Ghost sexually harassing during a shared Bondi bath in September 2023.
MacInnes says the Instagram allegations about the bath complaint were fabricated and Wilson used them as leverage after a feud developed over finances with Ghost as The Deb movie’s co-producer.
The Deb movie is a musical comedy that was released in April 2026 in Australian cinemas. It’s the directorial debut of Wilson, who co-stars in it alongside MacInnes.
MacInnes denies Ghost’s ‘considerable’ help in London
Earlier in the morning the court also heard Ghost regularly helped MacInnes in March 2023 in her ambitions to secure an acting role in The Gatsby musical in London
“In about March 2023 Ms Ghost suggested you audition for Gatsby. Now you’d agree that she gave you considerable help with an audition video you were doing as part of the process?” asked Sibtain.
“She helped” replied MacInnes.
“You take issue with the word considerable?” asked Sibtain.
“Not necessarily, but it wouldn’t be the word I’d use,” replied MacInnes.
“What word would you use?,” asked Sibtain.
“I’d say she helped,” replied MacInnes.
Later in the two-week trial, Ghost and MacInnes are set to give evidence about the dispute and movie’s ill-fated production that spiralled into multiple court claims.
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