Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson dies at age 82
"We are at a loss for words right now," Wilson's family said on the singer's website. "We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world."
The statement did not disclose a cause of death. Wilson had suffered from dementia and was unable to care for himself after his wife Melinda Wilson died in early 2024, prompting his family to put him under conservatorship.
Starting in 1961, the Beach Boys put out a string of sunny hits celebrating the touchstones of California youth culture - surfing, cars and romance. But what made the songs special was the ethereal harmonies that Wilson arranged and that would become the band's trademark.
Wilson formed the band with younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine in their home town, the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne. They went on to have 36 top 40 hits, with Wilson writing and composing most of the early works.
Songs such as Little Deuce Coupe, Surfin' USA., California Girls, Fun, Fun, Fun and Help Me, Rhonda remain instantly recognisable and eminently danceable.
But there were plenty of bad vibrations in Wilson's life: an abusive father, a cornucopia of drugs, a series of mental breakdowns, long periods of seclusion and depression and voices in his head that, even when he was on stage, told him he was no good.
"I've lived a very, very difficult, haunted life," Wilson told the Washington Post in 2007.
In May 2024, a judge ruled the 81-year-old Wilson should be put under a conservatorship after two longtime associates had petitioned the court at his family's request, saying he could not care for himself following the death of his wife, Melinda.
By 1966 touring had already become an ordeal for Wilson, who suffered what would be his first mental breakdown. He remained the Beach Boys' mastermind but retreated to the studio to work, usually without his band mates, on Pet Sounds, a symphonic reflection on the loss of innocence.
The landmark Good Vibrations was recorded during those sessions, though it did not make it on to the album. Though Pet Sounds included hits such as Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B and God Only Knows, it was not an immediate commercial success in the United States.
Pet Sounds, which was released in 1966, later would come to be recognised as Wilson's magnum opus. Paul McCartney said it was an influence on the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. "No one's musical education is complete until they've heard Pet Sounds," McCartney said.
In 2012 Rolling Stone magazine ranked it second only to Sgt Pepper on its list of the 500 greatest rock albums.
Released as a single that same year, Good Vibrations drew similar plaudits. On hearing the song, which would become the Beach Boys' greatest hit, Art Garfunkel called his musical partner Paul Simon to say: "I think I just heard the greatest, most creative record of them all."
The Beach Boys sold more than 100 million records.
Wilson's career would be derailed, though, as his use of LSD, cocaine and alcohol became untenable and his mental state, which would eventually be diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder with auditory hallucinations, grew shakier.
He became a recluse, lying in bed for days, abandoning hygiene, growing obese and sometimes venturing out in a bathrobe and slippers. He had a sandbox installed in his dining room and put his piano there. He also heard voices and was afraid that the lyrics of one of his songs were responsible for a series of fires in Los Angeles.
Born in June 1942, Brian Wilson, whose life was the subject of the 2014 movie Love & Mercy, had two controlling men in his life. The first was his father, Murry Wilson, a part-time songwriter who recognised his son's musical talent early. He became the Beach Boys' manager and producer in their early years but also was physically and verbally abusive toward them. The band fired him in 1964.
About a decade later, as Wilson floundered, his then-wife, Marilyn, hired psychotherapist Eugene Landy to help him. Landy spent 14 months with Wilson, using unusual methods such as promising him a cheeseburger if he wrote a song, before being dismissed.
Landy was rehired in 1983 after Wilson went through another period of disturbing behaviour that included overdosing, living in a city park and running up substantial debt. Landy used a 24-hour-a-day technique, which involved prescribing psychotropic drugs and padlocking the refrigerator, and eventually held sway over all aspects of Wilson's life, including serving as producer and co-writer of his music when he made a comeback with a 1988 solo album.
Wilson's family went to court to end his relationship with Landy in 1992. Wilson said Landy had saved his life but also would later call him manipulative. California medical regulators accused Landy, who died in 2006, of improper involvement with a patient's affairs. He gave up his psychology licence after admitting to unlawfully prescribing drugs.
Wilson's return to music was spotty. He appeared frail, tentative and shaky and none of the post-comeback work brought anything close to the acclaim of his earlier catalogue.
Wilson's brothers had both died by the time of the Beach Boys' 50th reunion tour in 2012 but he joined Love, who became the band's controlling force, for several shows. At the end, Wilson said he felt as if he had been fired but Love denied it. Wilson last performed live in 2022.
Wilson and his first wife, Marilyn, had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, who had hits in the 1990s as part of the group Wilson Phillips. He and second wife Melinda, whom he met when she sold him a car, had five children.
Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson, who created some of rock's most enduring songs such as Good Vibrations and God Only Knows in a career that was marked by a decades-long battle between his musical genius, drug abuse and mental health issues, has died at the age of 82.
"We are at a loss for words right now," Wilson's family said on the singer's website. "We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world."
The statement did not disclose a cause of death. Wilson had suffered from dementia and was unable to care for himself after his wife Melinda Wilson died in early 2024, prompting his family to put him under conservatorship.
Starting in 1961, the Beach Boys put out a string of sunny hits celebrating the touchstones of California youth culture - surfing, cars and romance. But what made the songs special was the ethereal harmonies that Wilson arranged and that would become the band's trademark.
Wilson formed the band with younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine in their home town, the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne. They went on to have 36 top 40 hits, with Wilson writing and composing most of the early works.
Songs such as Little Deuce Coupe, Surfin' USA., California Girls, Fun, Fun, Fun and Help Me, Rhonda remain instantly recognisable and eminently danceable.
But there were plenty of bad vibrations in Wilson's life: an abusive father, a cornucopia of drugs, a series of mental breakdowns, long periods of seclusion and depression and voices in his head that, even when he was on stage, told him he was no good.
"I've lived a very, very difficult, haunted life," Wilson told the Washington Post in 2007.
In May 2024, a judge ruled the 81-year-old Wilson should be put under a conservatorship after two longtime associates had petitioned the court at his family's request, saying he could not care for himself following the death of his wife, Melinda.
By 1966 touring had already become an ordeal for Wilson, who suffered what would be his first mental breakdown. He remained the Beach Boys' mastermind but retreated to the studio to work, usually without his band mates, on Pet Sounds, a symphonic reflection on the loss of innocence.
The landmark Good Vibrations was recorded during those sessions, though it did not make it on to the album. Though Pet Sounds included hits such as Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B and God Only Knows, it was not an immediate commercial success in the United States.
Pet Sounds, which was released in 1966, later would come to be recognised as Wilson's magnum opus. Paul McCartney said it was an influence on the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. "No one's musical education is complete until they've heard Pet Sounds," McCartney said.
In 2012 Rolling Stone magazine ranked it second only to Sgt Pepper on its list of the 500 greatest rock albums.
Released as a single that same year, Good Vibrations drew similar plaudits. On hearing the song, which would become the Beach Boys' greatest hit, Art Garfunkel called his musical partner Paul Simon to say: "I think I just heard the greatest, most creative record of them all."
The Beach Boys sold more than 100 million records.
Wilson's career would be derailed, though, as his use of LSD, cocaine and alcohol became untenable and his mental state, which would eventually be diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder with auditory hallucinations, grew shakier.
He became a recluse, lying in bed for days, abandoning hygiene, growing obese and sometimes venturing out in a bathrobe and slippers. He had a sandbox installed in his dining room and put his piano there. He also heard voices and was afraid that the lyrics of one of his songs were responsible for a series of fires in Los Angeles.
Born in June 1942, Brian Wilson, whose life was the subject of the 2014 movie Love & Mercy, had two controlling men in his life. The first was his father, Murry Wilson, a part-time songwriter who recognised his son's musical talent early. He became the Beach Boys' manager and producer in their early years but also was physically and verbally abusive toward them. The band fired him in 1964.
About a decade later, as Wilson floundered, his then-wife, Marilyn, hired psychotherapist Eugene Landy to help him. Landy spent 14 months with Wilson, using unusual methods such as promising him a cheeseburger if he wrote a song, before being dismissed.
Landy was rehired in 1983 after Wilson went through another period of disturbing behaviour that included overdosing, living in a city park and running up substantial debt. Landy used a 24-hour-a-day technique, which involved prescribing psychotropic drugs and padlocking the refrigerator, and eventually held sway over all aspects of Wilson's life, including serving as producer and co-writer of his music when he made a comeback with a 1988 solo album.
Wilson's family went to court to end his relationship with Landy in 1992. Wilson said Landy had saved his life but also would later call him manipulative. California medical regulators accused Landy, who died in 2006, of improper involvement with a patient's affairs. He gave up his psychology licence after admitting to unlawfully prescribing drugs.
Wilson's return to music was spotty. He appeared frail, tentative and shaky and none of the post-comeback work brought anything close to the acclaim of his earlier catalogue.
Wilson's brothers had both died by the time of the Beach Boys' 50th reunion tour in 2012 but he joined Love, who became the band's controlling force, for several shows. At the end, Wilson said he felt as if he had been fired but Love denied it. Wilson last performed live in 2022.
Wilson and his first wife, Marilyn, had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, who had hits in the 1990s as part of the group Wilson Phillips. He and second wife Melinda, whom he met when she sold him a car, had five children.
Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson, who created some of rock's most enduring songs such as Good Vibrations and God Only Knows in a career that was marked by a decades-long battle between his musical genius, drug abuse and mental health issues, has died at the age of 82.
"We are at a loss for words right now," Wilson's family said on the singer's website. "We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world."
The statement did not disclose a cause of death. Wilson had suffered from dementia and was unable to care for himself after his wife Melinda Wilson died in early 2024, prompting his family to put him under conservatorship.
Starting in 1961, the Beach Boys put out a string of sunny hits celebrating the touchstones of California youth culture - surfing, cars and romance. But what made the songs special was the ethereal harmonies that Wilson arranged and that would become the band's trademark.
Wilson formed the band with younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine in their home town, the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne. They went on to have 36 top 40 hits, with Wilson writing and composing most of the early works.
Songs such as Little Deuce Coupe, Surfin' USA., California Girls, Fun, Fun, Fun and Help Me, Rhonda remain instantly recognisable and eminently danceable.
But there were plenty of bad vibrations in Wilson's life: an abusive father, a cornucopia of drugs, a series of mental breakdowns, long periods of seclusion and depression and voices in his head that, even when he was on stage, told him he was no good.
"I've lived a very, very difficult, haunted life," Wilson told the Washington Post in 2007.
In May 2024, a judge ruled the 81-year-old Wilson should be put under a conservatorship after two longtime associates had petitioned the court at his family's request, saying he could not care for himself following the death of his wife, Melinda.
By 1966 touring had already become an ordeal for Wilson, who suffered what would be his first mental breakdown. He remained the Beach Boys' mastermind but retreated to the studio to work, usually without his band mates, on Pet Sounds, a symphonic reflection on the loss of innocence.
The landmark Good Vibrations was recorded during those sessions, though it did not make it on to the album. Though Pet Sounds included hits such as Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B and God Only Knows, it was not an immediate commercial success in the United States.
Pet Sounds, which was released in 1966, later would come to be recognised as Wilson's magnum opus. Paul McCartney said it was an influence on the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. "No one's musical education is complete until they've heard Pet Sounds," McCartney said.
In 2012 Rolling Stone magazine ranked it second only to Sgt Pepper on its list of the 500 greatest rock albums.
Released as a single that same year, Good Vibrations drew similar plaudits. On hearing the song, which would become the Beach Boys' greatest hit, Art Garfunkel called his musical partner Paul Simon to say: "I think I just heard the greatest, most creative record of them all."
The Beach Boys sold more than 100 million records.
Wilson's career would be derailed, though, as his use of LSD, cocaine and alcohol became untenable and his mental state, which would eventually be diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder with auditory hallucinations, grew shakier.
He became a recluse, lying in bed for days, abandoning hygiene, growing obese and sometimes venturing out in a bathrobe and slippers. He had a sandbox installed in his dining room and put his piano there. He also heard voices and was afraid that the lyrics of one of his songs were responsible for a series of fires in Los Angeles.
Born in June 1942, Brian Wilson, whose life was the subject of the 2014 movie Love & Mercy, had two controlling men in his life. The first was his father, Murry Wilson, a part-time songwriter who recognised his son's musical talent early. He became the Beach Boys' manager and producer in their early years but also was physically and verbally abusive toward them. The band fired him in 1964.
About a decade later, as Wilson floundered, his then-wife, Marilyn, hired psychotherapist Eugene Landy to help him. Landy spent 14 months with Wilson, using unusual methods such as promising him a cheeseburger if he wrote a song, before being dismissed.
Landy was rehired in 1983 after Wilson went through another period of disturbing behaviour that included overdosing, living in a city park and running up substantial debt. Landy used a 24-hour-a-day technique, which involved prescribing psychotropic drugs and padlocking the refrigerator, and eventually held sway over all aspects of Wilson's life, including serving as producer and co-writer of his music when he made a comeback with a 1988 solo album.
Wilson's family went to court to end his relationship with Landy in 1992. Wilson said Landy had saved his life but also would later call him manipulative. California medical regulators accused Landy, who died in 2006, of improper involvement with a patient's affairs. He gave up his psychology licence after admitting to unlawfully prescribing drugs.
Wilson's return to music was spotty. He appeared frail, tentative and shaky and none of the post-comeback work brought anything close to the acclaim of his earlier catalogue.
Wilson's brothers had both died by the time of the Beach Boys' 50th reunion tour in 2012 but he joined Love, who became the band's controlling force, for several shows. At the end, Wilson said he felt as if he had been fired but Love denied it. Wilson last performed live in 2022.
Wilson and his first wife, Marilyn, had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, who had hits in the 1990s as part of the group Wilson Phillips. He and second wife Melinda, whom he met when she sold him a car, had five children.
Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson, who created some of rock's most enduring songs such as Good Vibrations and God Only Knows in a career that was marked by a decades-long battle between his musical genius, drug abuse and mental health issues, has died at the age of 82.
"We are at a loss for words right now," Wilson's family said on the singer's website. "We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world."
The statement did not disclose a cause of death. Wilson had suffered from dementia and was unable to care for himself after his wife Melinda Wilson died in early 2024, prompting his family to put him under conservatorship.
Starting in 1961, the Beach Boys put out a string of sunny hits celebrating the touchstones of California youth culture - surfing, cars and romance. But what made the songs special was the ethereal harmonies that Wilson arranged and that would become the band's trademark.
Wilson formed the band with younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine in their home town, the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne. They went on to have 36 top 40 hits, with Wilson writing and composing most of the early works.
Songs such as Little Deuce Coupe, Surfin' USA., California Girls, Fun, Fun, Fun and Help Me, Rhonda remain instantly recognisable and eminently danceable.
But there were plenty of bad vibrations in Wilson's life: an abusive father, a cornucopia of drugs, a series of mental breakdowns, long periods of seclusion and depression and voices in his head that, even when he was on stage, told him he was no good.
"I've lived a very, very difficult, haunted life," Wilson told the Washington Post in 2007.
In May 2024, a judge ruled the 81-year-old Wilson should be put under a conservatorship after two longtime associates had petitioned the court at his family's request, saying he could not care for himself following the death of his wife, Melinda.
By 1966 touring had already become an ordeal for Wilson, who suffered what would be his first mental breakdown. He remained the Beach Boys' mastermind but retreated to the studio to work, usually without his band mates, on Pet Sounds, a symphonic reflection on the loss of innocence.
The landmark Good Vibrations was recorded during those sessions, though it did not make it on to the album. Though Pet Sounds included hits such as Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B and God Only Knows, it was not an immediate commercial success in the United States.
Pet Sounds, which was released in 1966, later would come to be recognised as Wilson's magnum opus. Paul McCartney said it was an influence on the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. "No one's musical education is complete until they've heard Pet Sounds," McCartney said.
In 2012 Rolling Stone magazine ranked it second only to Sgt Pepper on its list of the 500 greatest rock albums.
Released as a single that same year, Good Vibrations drew similar plaudits. On hearing the song, which would become the Beach Boys' greatest hit, Art Garfunkel called his musical partner Paul Simon to say: "I think I just heard the greatest, most creative record of them all."
The Beach Boys sold more than 100 million records.
Wilson's career would be derailed, though, as his use of LSD, cocaine and alcohol became untenable and his mental state, which would eventually be diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder with auditory hallucinations, grew shakier.
He became a recluse, lying in bed for days, abandoning hygiene, growing obese and sometimes venturing out in a bathrobe and slippers. He had a sandbox installed in his dining room and put his piano there. He also heard voices and was afraid that the lyrics of one of his songs were responsible for a series of fires in Los Angeles.
Born in June 1942, Brian Wilson, whose life was the subject of the 2014 movie Love & Mercy, had two controlling men in his life. The first was his father, Murry Wilson, a part-time songwriter who recognised his son's musical talent early. He became the Beach Boys' manager and producer in their early years but also was physically and verbally abusive toward them. The band fired him in 1964.
About a decade later, as Wilson floundered, his then-wife, Marilyn, hired psychotherapist Eugene Landy to help him. Landy spent 14 months with Wilson, using unusual methods such as promising him a cheeseburger if he wrote a song, before being dismissed.
Landy was rehired in 1983 after Wilson went through another period of disturbing behaviour that included overdosing, living in a city park and running up substantial debt. Landy used a 24-hour-a-day technique, which involved prescribing psychotropic drugs and padlocking the refrigerator, and eventually held sway over all aspects of Wilson's life, including serving as producer and co-writer of his music when he made a comeback with a 1988 solo album.
Wilson's family went to court to end his relationship with Landy in 1992. Wilson said Landy had saved his life but also would later call him manipulative. California medical regulators accused Landy, who died in 2006, of improper involvement with a patient's affairs. He gave up his psychology licence after admitting to unlawfully prescribing drugs.
Wilson's return to music was spotty. He appeared frail, tentative and shaky and none of the post-comeback work brought anything close to the acclaim of his earlier catalogue.
Wilson's brothers had both died by the time of the Beach Boys' 50th reunion tour in 2012 but he joined Love, who became the band's controlling force, for several shows. At the end, Wilson said he felt as if he had been fired but Love denied it. Wilson last performed live in 2022.
Wilson and his first wife, Marilyn, had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, who had hits in the 1990s as part of the group Wilson Phillips. He and second wife Melinda, whom he met when she sold him a car, had five children.
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Courier-Mail
5 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
‘F**k my life': Rebel Wilson's extraordinary spray over new lawsuit
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News. Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson has launched an extraordinary spray over the production company suing her for defamation, admitting the first song of her unreleased film, titled 'F**k My Life', sums up her situation. After news broke that the production company was suing her in Australia over comments on Instagram, Ms Wilson has returned to social media to repeat many of the claims that are outlined in the lawsuit. 'So apparently, I'm being sued in Australia?' she said to her 11 million followers on Instagram. 'It makes no sense. As the director, producer and co-star who nurtured a project called The Deb for five years from a three page idea into a gorgeous feature film, I want nothing more than to have this film released, and have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get this to happen. 'To say otherwise is complete nonsense. I'm so proud of the film!'. Describing the lawsuit as 'baseless' she said that 'many Australians worked so hard on this film, and it's imperative the movie is released!' 'It's been a year since the film has been completed and ready to go in cinemas. Instead, in my opinion, they've continued this spiteful, toxic behaviour. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 18: Rebel Wilson attends the premiere of "Bride Hard" at Directors Guild Of America on June 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor 21Seeds Infused Tequila) 'The first song of the film is called F**k My Life. I'm going to release it now, because if these f**kwits aren't going to release the movie, I may as well.' Ms Wilson then posted a video from the unreleased film, which legal sources suggested could be a breach of copyright. 'Everyone who worked on the movie and who knows me KNOWS, I put my blood, sweat and tears into this,' she said. 'Everyone knows I'm a 'truth teller' when it comes to vile people in the industry.' Ms Wilson is facing a lawsuit lodged in the NSW Supreme Court by the production company behind her directorial debut The Deb, alleging serious breaches of contract and director's duties, misleading and deceptive conduct, and injurious falsehood. Ms Wilson was sued for defamation in the United States last year by producers Amanda Ghost, Gregory Cameron and Vince Holden who allege she falsely claimed they had embezzled funds from the movie and had behaved with 'absolute viciousness and retaliatory behaviour'. That matter is ongoing. The new lawsuit in NSW has been lodged by Mr Holden's production company A.I. Film and is being handled by an Australian-based legal team – Patrick George, Jeremy Marel and barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC. It accuses Ms Wilson of blocking the film's release though legal threats and making false claims that the lead actor in the film, Charlotte MacInnes, was the target of 'inappropriate conduct'. In the new legal submissions, A.I.'s legal team insist that Ms MacInnes denies she was ever harassed, and states that Ms Wilson's claims are baseless. The blow up follows a video Rebel Wilson posted on Instagram in July 2024, where she made a number of misconduct claims about the movie producers to her 11 million followers. Rebel alongside actresses Natalie Abbott, Stevie Jean, and Charlotte MacInnes at a party for her unreleased film The Deb. Picture: Instagram/Rebel Wilson '[T]o have the business partners that are involved in that movie turn around and say that no, the movie can't premiere, is just beyond devastating,'' she said. 'And so I said, reported, I guess you would say, their bad behaviour when I found out not minor things, big things, you know, inappropriate behaviour towards the lead actress of the film, embezzling funds from the film's budget, which we really needed because we're a small movie, you know? So kind of really important things. Since I reported that behaviour, I have been met with absolute viciousness and retaliatory behaviour. 'And yet every step of the way, these people who I complained about then tried to make my life hell. 'And this behaviour is absolutely vile and disgusting. Now these people you know, Amanda Ghost in particular, has a history of doing this kind of thing, mainly to music artists but also to people in the film business. So, the thing is, these people are forced to sign NDAs or, you know, otherwise threatened or bullied to not speak out. 'I will speak the truth, and, you know, warn people about these people in the industry. Who are just not behaving ethically ... if the movie doesn't play in Toronto, it's because of these absolute f**kwits.' Ms Ghost is now suing Ms Wilson for defamation in the United States. In the NSW lawsuit, the production company's legal team argued these statements conveyed that one of the producers had made 'inappropriate sexual advances to an actress in the film'. 'In fact, none of the producers had made inappropriate sexual advances to an actress,'' the legal documents state. The lawsuit alleged Ms McInnes categorically denied Ms Wilson's claims telling media outlets 'there is no truth to the allegations made involving me.' 'I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released. It would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen,'' she said in a statement to The actress shared this moment from the set on Instagram. Picture: Instagram/Rebel Wilson She previously told media outlets: 'Making false accusations undermines real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative.' After the actress was subsequently cast as Daisy in Florence Welch's musical Gatsby: An American Myth, Ms Wilson is alleged to have made the following statement on Instagram stories accusing her of 'changing her story.' 'When an actress on her first feature film is asked by a producer to stay in the same apartment as them, and then makes a complaint to me as the director saying said producer 'asked her to have a bath and shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable' – what am I supposed to do of course I reported it,'' Ms Wilson said. 'There is no world where this is acceptable. The fact that this girl has been employed now by this 'producer' in the lead role of a production called GATSBY (ART Boston) and given a record label – should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story.' During the Cannes Film Festival, Ms Wilson allegedly posted more Instagram stories, suggesting MacInnes had 'lied by denying the allegations of sexual misconduct by the film's UK producers'. '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. 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.' A behind the scenes photo from the set of The Deb shared by the film's lead actress Charlotte MacInnes. Picture: Instagram/Charlotte MacInnes In the new lawsuit, it is alleged Ms Wilson 'threatened the Australian distributor of the film that she would obtain an injunction to prevent its release, when the contractual documents plainly prevented her from obtaining an injunction.' No stranger to defamation battles, Ms Wilson won a record payout from Bauer media but was later forced to repay the majority of her record defamation payout from a magazine publisher. Ms Wilson had received A$4.7m in damages and interest from Bauer Media over articles that she said portrayed her as a serial liar. But a court reduced the sum to A$600,000 following an appeal by the publisher. She was then ordered to pay back A$4.1m and A$60,000 in interest. A subsequent bid to have an appeal heard in the High Court of Australia was rejected, bringing her legal battle 'to a definitive end'. Originally published as 'F**k my life': Rebel Wilson's extraordinary spray over new lawsuit
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Rebel Wilson sued by production company of her own film
Star Australian actor Rebel Wilson is facing more legal action, accused of trying to block distribution of the first film she directed. Filed in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, production company AI Film has alleged Wilson falsely accused it of trying to block the release of her directorial debut. The lawsuit also alleged Wilson falsely accused a producer of sexual misconduct towards the lead female actor on the movie. The film in question is the 2024 musical The Deb, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Months earlier, Wilson is accused of using her Instagram account to make "false and derogatory statements about the film's other producers, with Wilson's mother company Camp Sugar and AI Film splitting the rights. "They included that they had engaged in inappropriate conduct toward the lead actress in the film, embezzled the film's funds and were trying to block the release of the film," the filings read. The sexual misconduct allegations centre around actor Charlotte MacInnes, who Wilson claimed on Instagram had been subject to inappropriate advances by one of the film's producers. "When an actress on her first feature film is asked by a producer to stay in the same apartment as them, and then makes a complaint to me as the director saying said producer 'asked her to have a bath and a shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable' - what am I supposed to do?" Wilson posted. MacInnes has denied the allegations and said "false accusations undermine real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative". Wilson has since reiterated the allegation and said MacInnes had since been given a job by the producer and secured a record deal. "(That) should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story," she said. The suit accused Wilson of undermining the attempts of producers to secure a distribution deal for the film by "continuing to make public and false allegations and by deliberately undermining the negotiations with potential distributors". It does not specifically allege why she would attempt to prevent distribution of her own film. A separate lawsuit filed in the United States has claimed Wilson wanted "credit for work she did not do, and to overshadow young, upcoming artists who truly deserved the credit". Wilson was not awarded a writing credit for the film. The legal action is seeking damages, an apology and corrective advertising. AI Film said the legal proceedings were "regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release". MacInnes also backed the legal action. "I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released ... it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen," she said. Star Australian actor Rebel Wilson is facing more legal action, accused of trying to block distribution of the first film she directed. Filed in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, production company AI Film has alleged Wilson falsely accused it of trying to block the release of her directorial debut. The lawsuit also alleged Wilson falsely accused a producer of sexual misconduct towards the lead female actor on the movie. The film in question is the 2024 musical The Deb, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Months earlier, Wilson is accused of using her Instagram account to make "false and derogatory statements about the film's other producers, with Wilson's mother company Camp Sugar and AI Film splitting the rights. "They included that they had engaged in inappropriate conduct toward the lead actress in the film, embezzled the film's funds and were trying to block the release of the film," the filings read. The sexual misconduct allegations centre around actor Charlotte MacInnes, who Wilson claimed on Instagram had been subject to inappropriate advances by one of the film's producers. "When an actress on her first feature film is asked by a producer to stay in the same apartment as them, and then makes a complaint to me as the director saying said producer 'asked her to have a bath and a shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable' - what am I supposed to do?" Wilson posted. MacInnes has denied the allegations and said "false accusations undermine real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative". Wilson has since reiterated the allegation and said MacInnes had since been given a job by the producer and secured a record deal. "(That) should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story," she said. The suit accused Wilson of undermining the attempts of producers to secure a distribution deal for the film by "continuing to make public and false allegations and by deliberately undermining the negotiations with potential distributors". It does not specifically allege why she would attempt to prevent distribution of her own film. A separate lawsuit filed in the United States has claimed Wilson wanted "credit for work she did not do, and to overshadow young, upcoming artists who truly deserved the credit". Wilson was not awarded a writing credit for the film. The legal action is seeking damages, an apology and corrective advertising. AI Film said the legal proceedings were "regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release". MacInnes also backed the legal action. "I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released ... it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen," she said. Star Australian actor Rebel Wilson is facing more legal action, accused of trying to block distribution of the first film she directed. Filed in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, production company AI Film has alleged Wilson falsely accused it of trying to block the release of her directorial debut. The lawsuit also alleged Wilson falsely accused a producer of sexual misconduct towards the lead female actor on the movie. The film in question is the 2024 musical The Deb, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Months earlier, Wilson is accused of using her Instagram account to make "false and derogatory statements about the film's other producers, with Wilson's mother company Camp Sugar and AI Film splitting the rights. "They included that they had engaged in inappropriate conduct toward the lead actress in the film, embezzled the film's funds and were trying to block the release of the film," the filings read. The sexual misconduct allegations centre around actor Charlotte MacInnes, who Wilson claimed on Instagram had been subject to inappropriate advances by one of the film's producers. "When an actress on her first feature film is asked by a producer to stay in the same apartment as them, and then makes a complaint to me as the director saying said producer 'asked her to have a bath and a shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable' - what am I supposed to do?" Wilson posted. MacInnes has denied the allegations and said "false accusations undermine real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative". Wilson has since reiterated the allegation and said MacInnes had since been given a job by the producer and secured a record deal. "(That) should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story," she said. The suit accused Wilson of undermining the attempts of producers to secure a distribution deal for the film by "continuing to make public and false allegations and by deliberately undermining the negotiations with potential distributors". It does not specifically allege why she would attempt to prevent distribution of her own film. A separate lawsuit filed in the United States has claimed Wilson wanted "credit for work she did not do, and to overshadow young, upcoming artists who truly deserved the credit". Wilson was not awarded a writing credit for the film. The legal action is seeking damages, an apology and corrective advertising. AI Film said the legal proceedings were "regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release". MacInnes also backed the legal action. "I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released ... it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen," she said. Star Australian actor Rebel Wilson is facing more legal action, accused of trying to block distribution of the first film she directed. Filed in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, production company AI Film has alleged Wilson falsely accused it of trying to block the release of her directorial debut. The lawsuit also alleged Wilson falsely accused a producer of sexual misconduct towards the lead female actor on the movie. The film in question is the 2024 musical The Deb, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Months earlier, Wilson is accused of using her Instagram account to make "false and derogatory statements about the film's other producers, with Wilson's mother company Camp Sugar and AI Film splitting the rights. "They included that they had engaged in inappropriate conduct toward the lead actress in the film, embezzled the film's funds and were trying to block the release of the film," the filings read. The sexual misconduct allegations centre around actor Charlotte MacInnes, who Wilson claimed on Instagram had been subject to inappropriate advances by one of the film's producers. "When an actress on her first feature film is asked by a producer to stay in the same apartment as them, and then makes a complaint to me as the director saying said producer 'asked her to have a bath and a shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable' - what am I supposed to do?" Wilson posted. MacInnes has denied the allegations and said "false accusations undermine real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative". Wilson has since reiterated the allegation and said MacInnes had since been given a job by the producer and secured a record deal. "(That) should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story," she said. The suit accused Wilson of undermining the attempts of producers to secure a distribution deal for the film by "continuing to make public and false allegations and by deliberately undermining the negotiations with potential distributors". It does not specifically allege why she would attempt to prevent distribution of her own film. A separate lawsuit filed in the United States has claimed Wilson wanted "credit for work she did not do, and to overshadow young, upcoming artists who truly deserved the credit". Wilson was not awarded a writing credit for the film. The legal action is seeking damages, an apology and corrective advertising. AI Film said the legal proceedings were "regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release". MacInnes also backed the legal action. "I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released ... it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen," she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rebel Wilson ‘deliberately undermined' her own film, new lawsuit claims
Now Holden's production company A.I Film – which splits the rights to The Deb with Wilson and her mother via her company Camp Sugar – has filed its own case in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday morning. A.I's legal team, Patrick George, Jeremy Marel and barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, allege in filings that Wilson knowingly spread false information online and breached her contractual duties, effectively blocking the film's launch. 'Wilson threatened the Australian distributor of the film that she would obtain an injunction to prevent its release, when the contractual documents plainly prevented her from obtaining an injunction,' the lawsuit documents obtained by the Herald allege. 'As a result of that threat, the Australian distributor withdrew its proposal to distribute the film.' A major part of the long-running battle over The Deb is Wilson's public allegations of sexual misconduct by a producer towards MacInnes in a Bondi penthouse. 'Making false accusations undermines real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative.' The Deb star Charlotte MacInnes MacInnes, according to the lawsuit, has denied any misconduct took place. 'Making false accusations undermines real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative,' MacInnes is quoted as saying in the lawsuit. But in September last year, Wilson allegedly used the official Instagram account of The Deb to double down on the claims, saying a producer asked MacInnes to shower with them. 'The fact this girl has been employed now by this 'producer' in the lead role of production … and given a record label – should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story,' Wilson wrote. In May this year, Wilson allegedly accused the 25-year-old lead actress of lies and supporting the producers, after she was filmed singing Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club aboard a billionaire's yacht at the Cannes Film Festival. '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,' Wilson allegedly wrote. '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.' On Thursday, MacInnes told the Herald she just wants The Deb to be released. 'I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released. It would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen,' MacInnes said in a statement. The Australian lawsuit is seeking damages, an apology and corrective advertising at the expense of Wilson or her company, Camp Sugar. Sources close to the case believe the dispute overshadowing the film is tied to the Australian Writers Guild's (AWG) choice not to award Wilson a writing credit for the film. The Deb was written for the stage by Hannah Reilly, and it was Reilly who received the sole screenplay credit for the film. Loading Lawyers in the US defamation case say Wilson's 'obsession with taking credit … at the expense of young, talented women' has morphed into a smear campaign against others working on the film. 'What followed [the Australian Writers Guild ruling] has been a series of personal attacks and false accusations, most recently targeting Charlotte – who I cast in the original stage production,' Reilly told Variety Australia this year. A.I Film told the Herald that the movie, and the hard work of the hundreds involved, should be seen 'far and wide'. 'These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb 's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it,' the A.I statement read.
