--- title: "Judge rejects bid to sanction Rebel Wilson over accusations she lied under oath in The Deb case" description: "A California judge turned down the producers' sanctions request against Rebel Wilson, but left them other ways to pursue their claims about evidence as…" url: https://legal.skoop.news/judge-rejects-bid-to-sanction-rebel-wilson-over-alleged-8216--10-23/ published: 2026-10-23T07:38:33.281952-04:00 modified: 2026-10-23T07:38:33.281952-04:00 section: "Legal & Consumer Rights" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["rebel wilson", "Judge Thomas Long", "Allyson K", "Amanda Ghost", "Bryan Freedman", "Camp Sugar", "Charlotte MacInnes", "Deb", "Thompson", "Instagram"] hashtags: ["#JudgeThomasLong", "#AllysonK", "#AmandaGhost", "#Court", "#law"] image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Instagram_screenshot.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled --- # Judge rejects bid to sanction Rebel Wilson over accusations she lied under oath in The Deb case > A California judge turned down the producers' sanctions request against Rebel Wilson, but left them other ways to pursue their claims about evidence as the case moves on. Published 2026-10-23 · Legal & Consumer Rights, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - A California judge rejected a bid to sanction Rebel Wilson after accusations she lied under oath and manipulated key evidence in the legal battle over her directorial debut, The Deb. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) - The producers claim Wilson falsely testified about leaking a demand letter from her lawyer, Bryan Freedman, to a news reporter. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) - Wilson's lawyer, Allyson K. Thompson, opposed the motion. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) ## The ruling A California judge rejected a bid to sanction Rebel Wilson after accusations she lied under oath and manipulated key evidence in the legal battle over her directorial debut, The Deb. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) The ruling matters to the producers and to Wilson, who are suing each other. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) The producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden sought sanctions against Wilson, accusing her of fraud on the court. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) Judge Thomas Long said from the bench that terminating sanctions required a high threshold of proof and that imposing such a penalty would be very difficult right out of the box. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) Long also said the producers' bid was made against a high bar and that Wilson's lawyer argued discovery was not complete. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) ## What the producers claimed The producers claim Wilson falsely testified about leaking a demand letter from her lawyer, Bryan Freedman, to a news reporter. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) They also claim she falsely denied involvement in two anonymous websites that portrayed Ghost as a sex trafficker. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) The producers accused Wilson of lying under oath when she denied any role in creating the websites amandaghost.com and amandaghostsucks.com. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) Their lawyers said they obtained overwhelming evidence linking Wilson to the sites, including documents and voice notes in which her crisis PR team discussed Wilson wanting one of the sites. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) The producers' lawyers alleged Wilson supplied the initial draft of the websites in a Word document whose metadata identified her company, Camp Sugar, as the author. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) If the claims survived, the producers asked that a future jury be told Wilson repeatedly lied under oath and deliberately destroyed evidence, including an Instagram video. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) ## Wilson's response and what remains open Wilson's lawyer, Allyson K. Thompson, opposed the motion. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) She argued Wilson had not yet completed her deposition and should have a chance to present evidence defending her accounts. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) In his written ruling, Long denied the sanctions requests but left open the possibility that the producers could pursue other remedies as the case proceeds. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) He wrote that the producers are free to seek jury instructions, including willful suppression of evidence instructions. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) He added that they could seek permission to amend their complaint to add a claim for destruction or manipulation of evidence. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) ## How the case began The legal battle traces back to July 2024, when Wilson went on Instagram and accused Ghost of inappropriate behavior towards Charlotte MacInnes, the lead actress of The Deb. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) Ghost denied the accusations and sued Wilson for defamation, claiming the actress-director was lashing out because she did not get a writing credit on The Deb. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) Three months later, Wilson filed a cross-complaint alleging the production was marred by a troubling pattern of egregious and illicit behaviors, including theft and bullying. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) Wilson is pursuing counterclaims against the producers for alleged bullying, intimidation, and breach of contract. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) Her countersuit also claims the co-producers' involvement in the film included sexual misconduct. [[2]](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/23/rebel-wilson-australian-court-win-co-producers-the-deb-film-ntwnfb) Wilson's cross-complaint claimed Ghost forced MacInnes to live with her during production and then pressured her to take a shower and bath together. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) In a sworn declaration, MacInnes disputed that account, describing the incident as a nonsexual response to a medical episode after the two women went swimming. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) The co-producers allege the film's box-office shortfall could be traced to Wilson's false and derogatory statements about them online. [[2]](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/23/rebel-wilson-australian-court-win-co-producers-the-deb-film-ntwnfb) The Deb was released by Sunrise Films in late August and sank from view pretty swiftly. [[3]](https://deadline.com/2026/10/rebel-wilson-trial-delay-1237171175/) ## Other proceedings Wilson was found not liable for defaming MacInnes in a trial in Australia. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) MacInnes's appeal of that decision continues. [[3]](https://deadline.com/2026/10/rebel-wilson-trial-delay-1237171175/) According to an ex parte filing, Thompson was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. [[3]](https://deadline.com/2026/10/rebel-wilson-trial-delay-1237171175/) Thompson's counsel request also asks that summary judgment hearings scheduled for December be pushed back. [[3]](https://deadline.com/2026/10/rebel-wilson-trial-delay-1237171175/) ## What it means for readers following the case If you are following the dispute, the sanctions request against Wilson has been denied. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) The judge left open other remedies as the case proceeds. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) The producers are free to seek jury instructions, including willful suppression of evidence instructions. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) They could also seek permission to amend their complaint to add a claim for destruction or manipulation of evidence. [[1]](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) Watch the summary judgment hearings scheduled for December, since a request asks that they be pushed back. [[3]](https://deadline.com/2026/10/rebel-wilson-trial-delay-1237171175/) ## Sources 1. [Judge Rejects Bid to Sanction Rebel Wilson Over Alleged ‘Fraud’ Amid Smear Website Scandal](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/rebel-wilson-amanda-ghost-no-sanctions-smear-websites-1235646994/) — rollingstone.com 2. [Rebel Wilson secures another Australian court win as co-producers of The Deb awarded just $10](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/23/rebel-wilson-australian-court-win-co-producers-the-deb-film-ntwnfb) — theguardian.com 3. [Rebel Wilson Trial Over ‘The Deb’ Producers’ Defamation Claims Likely To Be Delayed](https://deadline.com/2026/10/rebel-wilson-trial-delay-1237171175/) — deadline.com Image: Photo: Instagram / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Instagram_screenshot.png) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/