Rebel Wilson wins again: The Deb co-producers awarded just A$10

Rebel Wilson must pay her co-producers A$10 (US$7) in damages — a token sum that closes the latest round of a bitter legal fight over her debut film, The Deb. On Friday, Justice Elisabeth Peden of the New South Wales Supreme Court awarded producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden that nominal amount, dismissed their summons, and handed Wilson A$359,000 (US$251,830) plus interest on her cross-claim.

The stakes were anything but nominal. The Deb, a musical comedy that Wilson directed, co-produced and starred in, was filmed on a $22 million budget and took just $335,000 (US$235,000) at the local box office. It has not screened outside Oceania.

What was the fight about?

In July 2024, Wilson claimed publicly that Ghost, Cameron and Vince Holden had tried to block the film's release, embezzled money and behaved inappropriately towards the film's star, Charlotte MacInnes. The producers sued, arguing Wilson's "false and derogatory statements" caused their company financial and reputational damage — and, they alleged, she made them deliberately, to devalue the film so she could buy it from them herself.

Wilson denied their allegations and countersued. Her cross-claim, as reported, described a "troubling pattern of illicit, egregious behaviours" by the producers during the production, including theft, bullying and sexual misconduct. Peden's brief decision favoured her; a written judgment will follow.

Wilson, who holds a law degree from the University of New South Wales, celebrated on Instagram with a photo of herself in a graduation gown. "This girl never knew how much she was going to need that law degree!!" she wrote. "I spoke up because I believed there were serious concerns that needed to be raised on my film The Deb."

She was blunt about the cost of the fight. "Defending myself has come at an enormous personal, emotional, and financial cost. But I'm proud I stood my ground – for myself and for others I was trying to protect." She added that she had struggled to remain positive throughout the proceedings and thanked her family and followers for their support.

A second win — but not a final one

Friday's ruling is Wilson's second courtroom victory this year. A federal court earlier cleared her of defaming MacInnes, the film's young lead, in a fiery hearing. MacInnes had claimed four social media posts by Wilson implied she was a liar and a sellout who walked back a sexual harassment complaint to further her career. Those posts alleged MacInnes confided in Wilson — then recanted — that she felt uncomfortable when co-producer Ghost asked to have a shower and a bath together.

MacInnes denied making or retracting any complaint. She said she had not been uncomfortable when the two shared a bath in their swimwear after Ghost suffered a medical episode in September 2023. That decision is now under appeal, so Wilson's clean sweep is provisional.

What does this change for the film itself? Nothing yet on the evidence available: The Deb remains unreleased outside Oceania, its commercial fate apparently sealed by the very dispute it triggered. And with the federal court appeal pending, the last chapter of this litigation has not been written.