This story contains discussion of alleged sexual harassment.
Last year it was disclosed that she was sued by the producers of her unreleased directorial debut Deb – in particular Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and executive producer Vince Holden – after publicly accusing them of waste and “absolute wickedness and punitive behaviour”.
In Rebel's counterclaim further accused producers of “theft, bullying and sexual harassment”, further alleging that Amanda had been sexually harassed. Deband lead actress Charlotte McInnes on set.
Thenproduction company behind Deb sued Last summer, Rebel claimed that the actor had essentially sabotaged the film's release. This was followed legal complaint from Charlotte herself, who claimed that Rebel's sexual harassment claims on her behalf were “completely false and absurd.”
Earlier today Rebel appeared on 60 minutes Australia to discuss the numerous lawsuits she's facing for the first time – and she seems to be sticking to her story, at least for now.
Watch this video on YouTube
60 minutes within Australia / via youtube.com
“I felt like, as the director, I had to report this,” Rebel said of the allegation she made on Charlotte’s behalf. “And the moment I did it, [it] began all kinds of retaliation against me.”
After the news program laid out Amanda's side of the story – specifically that she allegedly took a hot shower with Charlotte after she had a medical reaction to cold water on set – Rebel claimed that Charlotte told her, “Amanda Ghost asked me to [take] She and I took baths and showers and it made me feel very uncomfortable.”
When the interviewer asked Rebel if there was “any doubt” that Charlotte “used those words,” she responded, “She told me she was uncomfortable, yes. “She came to me and made what I obviously took to be a complaint of sexual harassment, and I was obligated to act on it.”
The interviewer then confronted Rebel with alleged text messages between her and Amanda, in which she claimed she had spoken to Charlotte about the alleged incident and that the actor told Rebel she was “fine.”
“The way I would describe these messages is that I am trying to maintain professional communication with Amanda Ghost – she is a producer, she has access to money for the film,” she said. “We're a few weeks away from filming and I'm trying to keep my communication very professional, but at the same time I'm feeling very awkward.”
“I think when it comes to the details in court, I don't think anyone in their right mind believes there was a medical incident and Amanda Ghost needed the actress's body heat to save her life. It's just not believable.”
Later in the interview, Rebel was asked if she considered public statements about this situation to be “bullying.” “No, I see it as a defense of my film and the hard work everyone has put into it over the years,” she responded. “I think it’s crazy that it’s gotten to this point. “I think it's a ridiculous waste of the Australian legal system.”
She then stated that Charlotte “communicated something to me and I responded to it as the director of the film… I had an ethical and moral responsibility to do that.”
Rebel also said it was “undeniable” that Charlotte abandoned her alleged original lawsuit for the sake of career advancement. “I believe that her only work after filming Deb was in a play that Amanda Ghost produced,” she said. “Even though Oscar- and Tony-nominated performers auditioned for the role, it was given to an unknown Australian?”
When the interviewer noted that it sounded like Rebel was questioning Charlotte's talent, the actor responded, “I think she's talented, that's why I cast her in the movie… but I think there's no denying the benefits she got after the movie ended.”
FINE! You can watch the entire interview with Rebel Here.
