Rebel Wilson, known for her role in “Pitch Perfect,” is facing a defamation lawsuit filed by three producers of her movie “The Deb” in California. The producers, Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron, and executive producer Vince Holden, are suing Wilson after she accused them of embezzling funds and sabotaging her directorial debut. Variety obtained a letter of demand from Wilson to the producers in June, detailing allegations of financial impropriety and sexual harassment.
Wilson took to Instagram to post a video message captioned “If my movie gets buried at least you know why,” where she accused the producers of embezzling funds and displaying retaliatory behavior. However, the producers denied these accusations and claimed that Wilson was trying to hold the film hostage over screenwriting and music credits.
The heart of the defamation suit revolves around a dispute over credits. Wilson wanted co-authorship of the screenplay and rights to the original music, but the original screenwriter, Hannah Riley, was awarded full credit by the Australian Writers Guild. Wilson was granted an “additional writing by” credit, which she was not satisfied with. Wilson alleged in her demand letter that she was forced to sign over rights under duress and faced intimidation and threats of sabotage from the producers.
Wilson’s social media post was triggered by her claim that the film was offered the closing night slot at the Toronto International Film Festival, but the producers were allegedly blocking its premiere and had misappropriated funds. The producers denied these accusations, calling Wilson a bully who disregards others’ interests for her own gain.
The producers also disputed Wilson’s claims of financial misconduct and unprofessional behavior, including an alleged incident of sexual harassment by Ghost towards one of the actors. Despite the internal conflicts, the producers questioned why the accused would deny the film a premiere at TIFF, a valuable platform for potential buyers.
Representatives for Wilson have not commented on the defamation suit. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold and its impact on the future of “The Deb” and its premiere at TIFF.