Rebel Wilson is responding to allegations from the producers of her directorial debut, “The Deb,” after they filed a defamation lawsuit against her. On September 26, Wilson’s legal team filed a countersuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron, and Vince Holden, along with several production companies involved with the film.
In the countersuit, Wilson, 44, claims that the producers engaged in “a troubling pattern of egregious and illicit behaviors, including theft, bullying, and sexual misconduct” during the production of “The Deb.” Her attorneys allege that the trio misappropriated approximately $900,000 from the film’s budget in Australian currency and coerced her into signing agreements under duress. Furthermore, they assert that Ghost sexually harassed the film’s lead actress, which reportedly led to the actress suffering a breakdown.
Wilson’s legal representatives also highlighted the ongoing intimidation and bullying tactics they claim the producers have employed to silence her since October 2023. The countersuit accuses the three producers of attempting to evade accountability for their actions.
In a significant revelation, Wilson alleged that Amanda Ghost failed to disclose her “extensive history of seedy practices and unethical behavior” prior to collaborating on “The Deb.” Additionally, Wilson claimed that Gregor Cameron, Ghost’s husband, physically intimidated her during disagreements about the film.
The legal battle began on July 12, when Ghost, Cameron, and Holden filed a defamation lawsuit against Wilson. The producers alleged that Wilson had tried to prevent the film from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and accused her of “bad behavior” in a July 10 Instagram video. They further claimed that Wilson sought co-writing credit and rights to the film’s original music, asserting that she instigated credit and licensing disputes that jeopardized the film’s premiere.
In their July complaint, the producers described Wilson’s statements as a “vindictive attempt to destroy [their] reputations with demonstrably false statements.” In response, Wilson referred to the lawsuit as “rubbish” in another Instagram post on the same day.
Bryan Freedman, Wilson’s attorney, expressed his views on the matter in a statement to PEOPLE. He stated that the producers “attempted to manipulate the narrative by recklessly filing an outlandish lawsuit.” He added, “Their real problem? Only a fraction of their outrageous conduct has been revealed thus far.” Freedman claimed that the allegations in Wilson’s countersuit represent merely “the tip of the iceberg.” He suggested that the producers’ strategy to shift the narrative could backfire, leading to Wilson’s cross-complaint, which he described as a revelation of their “shocking misconduct” with many witnesses available to corroborate her claims.
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Wilson’s countersuit was filed just two days before her wedding to partner Ramona Agruma, which took place on September 28 in Sardinia, Italy. The couple publicly announced their relationship in June 2022 and became engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2023. They welcomed Wilson’s daughter, Royce Lillian, via surrogate in November 2022.
“The Deb” made its world premiere at TIFF in September, marking a significant milestone in Wilson’s career as she steps into the role of director. Despite the legal turmoil surrounding the film, Wilson appears committed to her creative vision and personal growth. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this legal battle will impact the film’s future and Wilson’s career trajectory.