Rebel Wilson has launched a blistering response after being sued in Australia over her troubled directorial debut The Deb - accusing the British producers of “spiteful, toxic behaviour” and vowing she won’t back down.
The Pitch Perfect star took to Instagram on Friday morning with an explosive statement after UK-based financiers AI Film lodged fresh legal proceedings against her in the New South Wales supreme court, claiming she sabotaged the film’s release and made defamatory claims in an attempt to force them to sell her the rights.
But the Sydney-born actor and director, 45, claims the lawsuit is “complete nonsense” and part of a wider campaign of “bullying and harassment” by the film’s British producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden.
“I’ve nurtured this project for five years,” she wrote. “To say otherwise is complete nonsense. I’m so proud of the film!”
The legal drama over The Deb - a feel-good Aussie musical - first erupted in mid-2024 when Wilson publicly accused her fellow producers of embezzlement, sexual misconduct and blocking the film’s distribution via a bombshell Instagram post. Her allegations were denied, and Ghost, Cameron and Holden swiftly launched a defamation lawsuit in Los Angeles.
Now, with that case still ongoing, AI Film has filed a second lawsuit in Australia, claiming Wilson’s real aim was to devalue the production and pressure them into handing over their stake to her company, Camp Sugar.
They allege Wilson threatened injunctions and made damaging statements knowing they were false - including to potential distributors - all to gain “personal financial advantage”.
In a fiery Instagram rebuttal, the actor accused the financiers of having “the power to release the film” but failing to do so “for a year” since it was completed. “Instead, in my opinion, they have continued this spiteful toxic behaviour.”
The film, which premiered to warm reviews at the Toronto Film Festival last year, remains unreleased - something Wilson says is punishing the cast and crew who worked tirelessly to bring it to life.
“What would you do if you were me,” she asked, “and a young cast member says she’s living with a producer and had a bath and shower with them and feels uncomfortable?”
Wilson also claimed crew had told her money was being stolen from the production. “I reported both things. I’d do the same again. I believe in a safe and inclusive workplace.”
Lead actor Charlotte MacInnes - named in Wilson’s earlier claims - has denied any misconduct, filing a statement in the US court last November calling the allegations “completely false and absurd.”
But Wilson today revealed she will release the film’s first song, cheekily titled “F**k My Life”, in protest.
“If these fkwits aren’t going to release the movie, I may as well,” she wrote. “Every day since discovering their dodgy behaviour... I’ve said ‘fk my life’ - but not in the fun way like in the song... in the way of like ‘how on earth did my joyful directorial debut get shat on by vile financiers who spew toxicity all because I told the truth about them?’”
Despite the legal quagmire, Wilson says she’s moved on and is currently directing her second feature. Still, she admitted posting about The Deb “with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart.”
“I just want this movie to come out and for all the amazingly talented contributors to be recognised,” she said.
Neither AI Film nor Wilson’s legal team has issued further comment at this stage.
