CANNES, France — A star-studded yacht party hosted by billionaire Len Blavatnik during the Cannes Film Festival took an unexpected turn after actress-director Rebel Wilson publicly criticized one of the performers, Charlotte MacInnes.
MacInnes, who stars in Wilson’s unreleased film The Deb, performed at the May 16 event aboard Blavatnik’s yacht Odessa II, attended by film industry figures including Lawrence Bender. Hours later, Wilson accused MacInnes on Instagram of wearing a “culturally inappropriate Indian outfit” and blamed her for supporting people delaying the film’s release.
Wilson and The Deb’s producers—Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron, and Vince Holden—have been locked in a legal battle since last year. The producers sued Wilson for defamation after she accused them online of embezzlement and abusive behavior. The film, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, has yet to secure distribution, reportedly due in part to Wilson’s public posts.
Wilson’s team says she remains proud of the film and wants it released. But controversy continued as she alleged that MacInnes received special treatment during production and had a questionable relationship with producer Ghost. A source close to MacInnes denied these claims, calling them misleading.
A key issue in the dispute involves writing credits. Wilson sought sole screenplay credit but was granted only an “additional writing by” credit by the Australian Writers’ Guild. Hannah Reilly, who adapted the original stage musical, received full credit. Reilly recently broke her silence, calling the situation “heartbreaking” and defending MacInnes as a “phenomenal talent.”
Wilson previously filed a motion to dismiss the defamation suit but lost in court. A demand letter she sent in 2024 indicated she wanted writing credit and a record deal under Warner Music, which Blavatnik owns.
Adding to the tension, the boutique that sold MacInnes her outfit defended it as a vintage American piece, not the cultural appropriation Wilson claimed.
Meanwhile, Wilson’s latest film Juliet & Romeo has struggled at the box office, and she recently changed talent agencies. MacInnes, in contrast, remains with WME and is signed to Atlantic Records, a Warner label.
As legal battles continue, Cannes insiders say the off-screen drama is making it harder for The Deb to find a path forward. “It’s hard enough to open a film without all this,” one financier commented.
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