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‘Nightmare’: Rebel Wilson despairs at star’s alleged complaint

Rebel Wilson has denied falsifying a complaint by the star of her directorial debut, describing the claimed sexual harassment incident as an "absolute nightmare situation".

The Pitch Perfect star is being sued by Charlotte MacInnes, the 27-year-old lead actor of the musical comedy The Deb.

MacInnes alleges she was defamed by Wilson in social media posts that suggested she is a liar who retracted a sexual harassment complaint to further her acting and music career.

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Rebel Wilson arrives at the Federal Court on Wednesday 29th April 2026.

MacInnes confided she felt uncomfortable after the film's co-producer, Amanda Ghost, asked to have a shower and a bath together in September 2023, according to Wilson.

During her second day in the witness box today, the first-time director told the Federal Court the young actor later "flip-flopped" on her complaint while sounding nervous in a phone call.

MacInnes' barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC noted her client had consistently denied making a complaint and suggested Wilson made up the comments to sow division.

The Bridesmaids star rejected the accusation and described a producer and young lead actor living and having a bath together as a terrible scenario.

"It is an absolute nightmare situation for me who's a first-time director making a movie that is essentially a girl-power movie," she said.

"It would not at all be in my interest to make up a sexual harassment complaint."

Wilson suggested someone spoke to MacInnes to get her to change her story before the phone call in which the young actor insisted she had not been uncomfortable during the earlier incident.

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Charlotte MacInnes  arriving at the Law Courts complex in, Greens Square, Sydney, NSW, Friday, 24 April 2026.   Photo: Sam Mooy / The Sydney Morning Herald

The first-time director reported the conversation back to Ghost, telling her "Charlotte says all good", texts tendered to the court showed.

But Wilson said she felt a lingering sense of unease about the situation after observing a change in how the pair interacted, including overt sexual conversations.

"It was really suss," she said.

Chrysanthou accused the Hollywood star of raising the alleged complaint after it had been resolved in order to get her way during a dispute with her co-producer, something Wilson denied.

The famous actor has also repeatedly denied bullying and harassing MacInnes, saying she considers herself a champion of women.

She was questioned about texts she sent to the young star in May 2023 after inviting her to a theatre production with other cast members of The Deb.

MacInnes apologised for not getting back to her and blamed a lack of wi-fi, the texts showed.

"I appreciate the apology," Wilson replied.

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"In the future, it is terribly rude to say you wanted a ticket to a show and then you don't reply or follow up … not a great start to our working relationship."

MacInnes sent "huge apologies" and praised the older actor as "nothing short of wonderful".

Wilson rejected suggestions from Chrysanthou that the text was utterly inappropriate, bullying or "over the top chastisement" of a junior actor.

"I don't regard one text message as bullying," she said.

She similarly dismissed any suggestion of wrongdoing in connection with her inability to hand over communications requested by MacInnes' legal team.

Wilson said her phone had been stolen in London in 2025 and some of her WhatsApp and text chains hadn't been backed up.

"Are you sure your phone was stolen and you didn't just dump it in a park?" Chrysanthou asked.

Wilson's lawyer Dauid Sibtain SC objected to the question but not before his client described the allegation as "absolutely outrageous".

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Alleged double murderer’s mum charged with trying to influence key witness

The mother of Beau Lamarre-Condon, the former police officer accused of killing a Sydney couple, has been arrested and charged for allegedly trying to influence an important witness in his double murder trial.

Homicide Squad detectives charged 63-year-old Coleen Lamarre today after she allegedly attempted to influence a key witness to change their evidence in the trial over the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.

She was arrested at her Balmain home this morning at 11.15am and was taken to Day Street Police Station.

READ MORE: Police reveal 'distressing' finds in increasingly desperate search for Sharon

Coleen Lamarre leaves court after her son, alleged double killer Beau Lamarre-Condon denied murdering Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Tuesday 26th August 2025. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Lamarre was charged with intending to pervert the course of justice.

She was refused bail and will appear in court tomorrow.

More to come. 

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Police reveal ‘distressing’ finds in increasingly desperate search for Sharon

Warning: This story contains details and content that some readers may find distressing.

A pair of children's underwear believed to be Sharon Granites' and a shirt worn by her suspected abductor have been found, police have revealed, as the search for the Alice Springs girl grows increasingly desperate.

The five-year-old has been missing since Saturday night, when she was put to bed some time before 11pm at a house in the Old Timers Camp where she and her mother had been visiting.

She was last seen nearby holding hands with Jefferson Lewis at 11.30pm with police today confirming they believe he led the little girl away from the camp.

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Lewis had been released from jail just six days earlier, charged for violent offences including assault and domestic violence.

Police found the items of clothing on the riverbank at the back of the Old Timers Camp where Sharon was last seen on Sunday, but have only just revealed their findings.

Northern Territory Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Malley said the shirt found by police is Lewis' "distinctive" yellow and black shirt captured on police bodycam footage when officers visited the Old Timers Camp earlier on Saturday for an unrelated mental health call out.

A doona cover was also found alongside the shirt and children's underwear.

Malley said the possibility that Sharon had been allegedly sexually assaulted was "certainly on the table".

The items of clothing and the doona have been sent away for forensic examination, with the findings expected tomorrow.

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Police are seeking public assistance to locate 47-year-old male, Mr Jefferson Lewis, who police believe can assist with enquires.

NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said Sharon's family are "distressed" by the findings and is being supported by authorities.

"She is a very affectionate little girl loved by her family, so it's just a horrible thing that they are going through at the moment," he said in an update from Alice Springs this afternoon.

There have been no other confirmed sightings or traces of either Sharon or Jefferson Lewis since Sunday, which Malley described as "very unusual".

This has prompted police to suspect that community members may be sheltering Lewis.

"There are people in the community who aren't telling us what we need to hear, which is very frustrating when we believe that serious offences have been committed," he said.

"When we do get him – and it's only a matter of time – they could be in strife as well."

Despite this, police maintain that Sharon may yet be alive, saying she may have wandered away from Lewis and become lost in the bush.

"As time goes on, the chances of finding little Sharon alive reduce," he said.

Around 100 community volunteers have now joined in the hunt for the little girl, now in its fourth day, assisted by helicopters and drones which are scouring the "rough" terrain.

"This man doesn't have a telephone, he doesn't have a bank account, he doesn't have a car," Malley said.

"We are going back to 1930s policing without that digital footprint… we are knocking on doors, we are going through houses.

"It is old-style policing and it is a hard slog."

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Lewis had previously worn an ankle monitor, police said, providing potential

The widening manhunt has also reached interstate, with Western Australian police contacting Lewis' wife and children in Bolga, who police say are cooperating with authorities.

Malley called on anyone in the community with information about either Sharon or Lewis to contact authorities immediately.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)

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