Rebel Wilson sparks drama with ‘The Deb’ producers post-Cannes yacht bash, unleashing a hilariously bizarre jealousy meltdown!

Rebel Wilson has ignited a high-profile feud with the producers and star of her directorial debut, The Deb, following a dramatic series of events at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The controversy centers around a private yacht party hosted on May 16 by billionaire Len Blavatnik—who is also the film’s financier—aboard his luxury vessel, Odessa II. The guest list included approximately 50 influential industry figures, such as producer Lawrence Bender and Access Entertainment president Danny Cohen, who gathered to celebrate the premieres of several films, including The Deb and the Joaquin Phoenix vehicle Eddington.

The Yacht Party and Social Media Fallout

During the festivities, Charlotte MacInnes, the lead actress in The Deb, performed a cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” while wearing what Wilson later described as a “culturally inappropriate Indian outfit”. Shortly after the performance, the official Instagram account for The Deb—which Wilson controls amid ongoing legal disputes—posted a series of sharply critical stories targeting MacInnes.

One post read:

“Charlotte MacInnes in a culturally inappropriate Indian outfit on Len Blavatnik’s luxury yacht in Cannes — ironically singing a song from a movie that will never get released because of her lies and support for the people blocking the film’s release.

Another followed:

“So glad you got your record deal, Charlotte, at the expense of the 300 people who worked on The Deb and really wanna see it released.

These public accusations, which referenced both MacInnes’s alleged role in the film’s stalled release and her career advancement, immediately drew industry attention and fueled speculation about jealousy and internal conflict.

Backdrop: A Year-Long Legal Battle

The Cannes incident is just the latest flashpoint in a nearly year-long legal war between Wilson and The Deb’s producers: Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron, and Vince Holden. In the summer of 2024, Wilson posted an Instagram video accusing the producers of embezzlement and sexual harassment, and claiming they sabotaged the film’s planned premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 134. The producers responded by filing a defamation lawsuit, alleging Wilson was attempting to secure a writing credit for the film and that her public statements damaged their reputations and the film’s prospects.

Wilson countersued, but in November 2024, a judge denied her motion to dismiss the defamation case, characterizing the dispute as a “private business dispute.” As a result, The Deb—a musical about two girls shaking up a debutante ball in rural Australia and adapted from a 2022 Sydney stage show—remains unreleased, despite positive reactions from its Toronto screening and interest from distributors.

Reactions and Industry Impact

Wilson’s posts implied that MacInnes’s actions had undermined the efforts of the film’s cast and crew, numbering around 300, and that her support for the producers was a key reason for the film’s limbo. MacInnes has denied any wrongdoing, and a source close to her clarified that her studio time and accommodation during production were standard, arranged by her agent, and not unusual or preferential.

A representative for Wilson stated:

“The entire Deb crew is looking forward for the film to finally be shown to the world. Rebel is so proud of this film and in awe of all of the hard work everyone involved put into the creation of her directorial debut.

Meanwhile, industry observers at Cannes noted that the drama had made potential buyers wary, with one financier commenting, “It’s challenging enough to launch a film without an unrelated drama swirling around it”.

Summary Table: Key Figures and Events

Conclusion

The Cannes yacht party incident has significantly escalated the already fraught relationship between Rebel Wilson and The Deb’s producers and cast. Wilson’s public social media outbursts—characterized by accusations of cultural insensitivity, professional sabotage, and personal betrayal—have intensified the legal and reputational stakes for all involved, leaving the fate of the film and its 300-strong crew in limbo.