Rebel Wilson Defamation Case News: Comedian Receives Biggest Award From Damages in Australian History
Rebel Wilson, who won her defamation case against Bauer Media, received the biggest award from damages in the legal history of Australia.
The Aussie actress was given AU$4.5 million or US$3.6 million after she and her legal team proved in court that Bauer Media's Woman's Day magazine smeared her reputation of being a "serial liar," CNN confirmed.
Wilson's lawyers confirmed that this was the largest payout in the history of defamation cases in Australia.
Wilson's defamation payout consisted of US$3.1 million (AU$3.9 million) in special damages — for the actress' loss of opportunity to land roles because of the false publications — and US$522,000 (AU$650,000) in general damages.
Justice John Dixon of the Supreme Court of Victora — who awarded Wilson of the defamation payout — said it was necessary for the Australian actress to receive a big amount to vindicate her of the false publications.
"Unless substantial damages are awarded there is a real risk that the public will not be convinced of the seriousness of the defamation, but will rather wrongly conclude that the articles were trivial or not that serious," Dixon announced in court.
Last June, Bauer Media was found guilty by a unanimous jury of defaming Wilson by painting her as someone "who fabricated every aspect of her life."
Woman's Day launched articles that claimed Wilson fabricated her name, age, and events of her childhood so she could make a name in Hollywood. Because of the impact that these articles made, Wilson missed out on several big opportunities in landing film roles.
Dixon said that Bauer Media failed to fully certify the allegations and its source, who demanded payment and anonymity.
Since the payout, Wilson put the case to rest by sharing a message on Twitter.
"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," her post reads.
