Rebel Wilson wins record $4.5m in defamation payout
Breaking: Judge is scathing of Bauer Media and awards biggest defamation payout in Aust. legal history.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News, Top Stories
Rebel Wilson has won a whopping $4.56m in her high profile defamation case against Bauer Media -a record figure for defamation in Australia.
Justice John Dixon today said Bauer’s defamation of Rebel Wilson warranted “substantial” damages, ruling the magazine empire’s campaign against the actress was “unprecedented” in Australia.
He ruled she should receive $650,000 in general damages and $3.97 million in special damages.
BREAKING: Rebel Wilson wins $4.5 million in epic defamation case against Bauer Media. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/wB9oXm9u1h
— Shannon Deery (@s_deery) September 13, 2017
Dixon scathing of Bauer's "campaign" against Rebel to pursue its own corporate objectives.
— Shannon Deery (@s_deery) September 13, 2017
To put into context how bad this is for Bauer, before trial Rebel offered to settle for $200,000.
— Shannon Deery (@s_deery) September 13, 2017
Rebel Wilson took action against the magazine empire citing loss of income after eight articles published in 2015 that gave the impression she was a serial liar who invented “fantastic stories” including falsifying her age.
In June a jury found in her favour.
The high profile case attracted daily media attention, fans and colourful references to Walt Disney, David Letterman, rapping and Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery.
Lawyers had argued the actress should be awarded up to $7m in damages. Prior to the case Wilson offered to settle for $200,000.
Wilson has previously indicated she would donate any monies to charity, scholarships or invest in the Aussie film industry .
Lawyers for Bauer Media said their client is considering the judgement.
We’ve represented @RebelWilson in obtaining the largest #defamation damages award in Australian #legal history | https://t.co/N5vWuJFlCE pic.twitter.com/0ZCWGjWwUl
— Corrs (Law Firm) (@Corrslawyers) September 13, 2017
Justice Dixon has awarded me a record sum and I’m extremely grateful for that. It is 4 times the Australian record.
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) September 13, 2017
To me though, this case wasn’t about the money.
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) September 13, 2017
I’m looking forward to helping out some great Australian charities and supporting the Oz film industry with the damages I’ve received.
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) September 13, 2017
Also looking forward to getting back to my career and entertaining everyone! 😊
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) September 13, 2017
Source: Herald Sun
13 Responses
$4.5m? she can afford a house in Sydney now 😉 wasn’t her 15 minutes up anyways?
I guess there’ll be no invite to The Logies for Rebel ?
And this is the outcome of just one scorned celebrity. Here’s hoping others rise and take these scummy publications to the cleaners.
either way her career is dead, if she’s lucky she might get a roll in a soap. she was the flavour of the month and was boring
I could easily retire with $4.56M no need to ever have to work again
She’s attached to 4 films over the next couple of years, I think her career will survive.
She has more work than she can handle for years ahead. I think the word you’re looking for is ‘ role’. The other one is ‘research’.
This is fantastic. Hopefully it will stop or at least lessen the amount of nonsense these magazines write.
There in lies the problem …… It is like me, wishing that all reality tv should stop being made! unfortunately people watch reality tv?……. and people will keep reading this slop, why do you think they keep printing it! supply and demand ……..
Maybe these people will now think before printing,assume this will set a precedent for future court cases
Great result! I dislike these trashy gossip magazines that constantly print lies!
Congrats to Rebel, brave thing to do and a great result
That is a huge result.
Not a flash day for Woman’s Day.