Rebel Wilson's damages slashed on appeal

Bauer Media's defamation damages payout to Rebel Wilson has been slashed from $4.5 million to $600,000, following an appeal.

Australian actor Rebel Wilson.

Australian actor Rebel Wilson. Source: AAP

Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has had her defamation payout slashed from $4.5 million to $600,000 after magazine publisher Bauer Media successfully appealed.

The judgment, handed down by the Court of Appeal in Melbourne on Thursday, means the Pitch Perfect actress will receive about $3.9 million less than she had originally been awarded.

The high-profile defamation suit was over a number articles, published in 2015, which made Wilson out to be a serial
Wilson claimed she lost film roles as a result of the articles and in September she was awarded the largest defamation payout in Australian legal 

Supreme Court Justice John Dixon awarded her a record $4.5 million, including $3.9 million in economic damages relating to a loss of income.

But Bauer Media appealed and the Woman's Day publisher had a major win on Thursday.

The Court of Appeal found there was no basis for Wilson to be awarded financial damages for the potential loss of roles, setting aside the economic damages entirely.

Wilson was not present for the judgment but she took to Twitter the night before, saying she had already won the case.

"I'm away on location in Europe filming right now," she tweeted on Wednesday night.

"As I've said before, I have already won the case and this is unchallenged!

"This case was never about the money for me."

Wilson, who starred in the Pitch Perfect films as well as How To Be Single and Bridesmaids, has said she will give away the damages to charity and to support the Australian film industry.

Bauer Media did not challenge the jury's defamation finding in its appeal and sought only for the damages to be reduced.

The Court of Appeal is yet to determine costs.


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Rebel Wilson's damages slashed on appeal | SBS News