Rebel Wilson suffered a setback in her legal standoff with the producers of her directorial debut The Deb.
The 44-year-old actress has been facing off with members of the team who worked on the musical since this summer when she accused them of misconduct.
She was sued for defamation and filed a countersuit against them in September.
A hearing took place on Thursday (November 21), and Rebel‘s attempts to get the defamation case thrown out were denied. The results of the hearing will also have an impact on the movie.
Keep reading to find out more…
According to reporting by Deadline, Rebel‘s attempt to have the lawsuit thrown out was denied by LA Superior Court Judge Thomas D. Long, who ruled that Rebel‘s statements did not qualify as “protected activities” since they accused the producers of “criminal conduct.”
The producers’ attorney Camille Vasquez shared a statement with the outlet, noting, “We are very gratified by the Court’s ruling. Defendant Rebel Wilson’s anti-SLAPP motion was a cynical attempt to stifle a valid legal claim after she launched a public attack against three hardworking professionals.”
The outlet reported that Rebel‘s court battle will likely slow the release of The Deb. It seems unlikely that it will secure a premiere date until matters are resolved.
The Deb did premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where Rebel‘s young daughter made her red carpet debut.
