Rebel Wilson Wins Record Judgment In Defamation Case Against Publisher
The comic actress said Bauer Media "tried to take me down with a series of false articles."
Reuters
LOADINGERROR LOADING
Australian comedian Rebel Wilson won $3.7 million ($4.6 million Australian) in damages on Wednesday after a global magazine publisher was found to have defamed her in a string of articles which led to her losing out on Hollywood movie roles.
The Supreme Court of Victoria ordered Bauer Media to pay Sydney-born Wilson, best known for her roles in the “Pitch Perfect” films, $650,000 Australian in general damages, including aggravated damages, plus $3,917,472 Australian in special damages, the highest ever for a libel case in Australia.
Advertisement
“The damage suffered by Miss Wilson warrants a substantial damages award to vindicate her and nail the lie,” Justice John Dixon said, reading out a summary of his judgment.
He said aggravated damages were justified due to Bauer Media’s “unprecedented” global reach and its decision to run a string of articles which claimed Wilson had lied about her age, real name and some childhood events, even after it knew the allegations were false.
“The allegations were based on information from a source who required payment and anonymity and whom the editor considered had an axe to grind,” Dixon said.
Advertisement
He said Bauer Media had “kept the story alive for days” for its own profit, knowing the allegations in its Woman’s Day magazine would be picked up by other entertainment media worldwide, and as a result, Wilson missed out on a number of film roles.
The damages awarded were based on the judge’s estimate that she had lost out on three lead or co-lead roles, each worth at least A$6.2 million ($5 million), ascribing 20 percent of the lost earnings to Bauer Media’s articles.
Wilson, who received the judgment in the middle of the night in Britain, said on social media she was “extremely grateful” for the record sum the judge had awarded her.
“Today was the end of a long and hard court battle against Bauer Media who viciously tried to take me down with a series of false articles,” she said.
“To me though, this case wasn’t about the money,” she said. adding she plans to give away the money to help some Australian charities and the Australian film industry.
Advertisement
Bauer Media said in a statement on its website it was considering the judgment.
The previous record for damages in a defamation case in Australia was A$2.3 million, two legal experts said.
“Most observers of the case are surprised at the quantum of the judgment, and I would expect that it would be appealed,” said Peter Bartlett, a partner at law firm Minter Ellison.
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.