The lead actress in Rebel Wilson’s film debut as a director, The Deb, is set to drop a new pop single infused with synth sounds and a companion album, while also filing a defamation lawsuit against Wilson in Australia.
Charlotte MacInnes, who provided testimony earlier this week in a Sydney court regarding a 2023 incident at Bondi Beach that resulted in several lawsuits involving Wilson, launched her single “Celestial” on Thursday preceding her debut album Highwater, scheduled for release on June 5 through Atlantic Records.
“I’ve spent time creating this new music alongside amazing collaborators. I adore the enchanting yet genuine universe we’re creating. The entire journey felt like a liberating catharsis, and I hope that sentiment resonates with everyone who listens,” she expressed in a statement.
The lyrics of the new track might ignite immediate chatter, especially when MacInnes sings, “What if I can be bigger than my ghosts. Collect my memories, of my soul screaming out … None of this is real.” Amanda Ghost, who collaborated on the album, was a lead producer on The Deb alongside Wilson.
The film premiered earlier this month in Australia, receiving generally positive reviews but poor box office performance. Initially delayed, the film is now more recognized for the extensive legal battles surrounding it, with Wilson involved in various lawsuits against Ghost and MacInnes.
The intense legal disputes primarily focus on an alleged event in Ghost’s Bondi Beach bathroom on September 5, 2023, after she and MacInnes had gone for an evening swim. In an Instagram post from July 2024, Wilson accused Ghost of “inappropriate behavior” towards MacInnes that night, in addition to financial misconduct related to the film’s budget and attempting to sabotage The Deb as retaliation for Wilson’s reporting of the purported “behavior.”
In legal documents, Wilson alleged that Ghost compelled MacInnes to stay with her during production and subsequently coerced her into taking a shower and bath after their swim. MacInnes contested this narrative, framing the incident as a nonsexual response to a medical issue.
“Ms. Ghost and I went for a swim in the ocean close to the apartment, and the cold water triggered a medical reaction for Ms. Ghost. I assisted her by bringing her back to the apartment and running warm water for a shower and bath to help her warm up. Both of us remained in our swimsuits,” MacInnes stated in a formal declaration filed in California last November, previously obtained by Rolling Stone. “There was nothing sexual or inappropriate about that incident. It was strictly a medical situation.”
For her part, Ghost refuted the claims and sued Wilson for defamation in Los Angeles County Superior Court, arguing that Wilson was retaliating because she wasn’t credited as a writer on The Deb. Three months later, Wilson countersued Ghost for breach of contract and fraud.
MacInnes also filed a defamation suit against Wilson, leading to her testimony in a Sydney federal courtroom this week. As reported by The Guardian, MacInnes denied ever informing Wilson that the incident caused her discomfort, despite Wilson’s assertions that MacInnes had raised concerns with her. In a separate social media post, Wilson claimed MacInnes retracted her concerns to further her music career, noting that Ghost is associated with Warner Music Group, the parent company of Atlantic Records, for music and film collaborations.
“I have never made a complaint to Ms. Wilson,” MacInnes reportedly claimed in her testimony on Thursday, according to The Guardian. The trial is still in progress, as noted by the outlet.
The next session in the legal conflict situated in Los Angeles County is scheduled for May 5.
