Key Points
- Guest alleges trip-and-fall on patio rug covering hole, injuring her right knee.
- Couple denies liability, claiming Zellweger wasn't leaseholder; Anstead says he met tenant duties.
- Property owner cross-complains, seeks indemnity, damages and legal fees from Anstead and Zellweger.
RENEE Zellweger and boyfriend Ant Anstead are set to face a jury trial later this year after a guest accused them of negligence following an alleged injury at their Laguna Beach rental home.
In February 2025, Orange County resident Tracey Bryn Belland filed a lawsuit claiming she was injured while visiting the California property in August 2024.
According to the civil complaint filed in Orange County Superior Court, Belland alleged she “tripped and fell on the patio,” claiming a thin rug had been placed over a hole, which she says caused injury to her right knee.
Belland alleges the fall resulted in ongoing physical, economic and emotional injuries. She is seeking damages “in an amount according to proof,” which would cover medical expenses, incidental costs and legal fees. The suit names Bridget Jones’ Diary star Zellweger, Anstead and the property owner, Glenn Alan Wilson, and includes a claim of negligence.
A jury trial is scheduled for Monday, June 22, following nearly two years of legal proceedings.
Zellweger and Anstead denied all allegations in June 2025. In a joint response filed in December 2025, they argued that Zellweger did not lease, own or maintain the property and therefore had no duty to inspect, repair or warn of any condition on the premises.
The response further stated that Anstead, as tenant, acted reasonably and performed all duties required under the rental agreement. Court documents attached to the case indicate that Anstead leased the Laguna Beach home from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025.
The legal battle expanded in October 2025 when property owner Glenn Alan Wilson filed a cross-complaint. In his filing, Wilson claimed Anstead was the sole leaseholder and therefore responsible for maintaining the residence.
He also alleged that although Zellweger was not listed on the lease, she “lived there much of the time”.
Wilson has accused the couple of equitable indemnity and contribution. He additionally filed one count of breach of oral contract against Zellweger and one count of breach of the implied covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing against Anstead. He is seeking damages including attorney’s fees and legal costs.
Prior to the lawsuit, Zellweger and Anstead largely kept their relationship out of the public eye. They met in June 2021 while filming Anstead’s Discovery+ series Celebrity IOU Joyride and began dating shortly after. Anstead shares Amelie, 22, and Archie, 18, with ex-wife Louise Storey and Hudson, 6, with ex-wife Christina Haack.
The case is set to move forward this summer, when a jury will determine the outcome of the claims brought against the couple.
Why This Matters
The trial could set precedent for celebrity accountability and landlord-tenant responsibility, with potential financial and reputational consequences for Zellweger and Anstead — and highlights how personal relationships can complicate legal liability in rental disputes.
