Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS REBEL Wilson was ordered to return almost Aus$4.2 million (€2.6 million) with interest to an Australian publisher today after a defamation payout was slashed on appeal.
The Pitch Perfect star was awarded Aus$4.5 million (€2.85 million) in damages against Bauer Media last September over articles claiming she lied about her age and background to further her career.
It was the largest defamation win in Australian legal history and Bauer appealed, arguing the size of the settlement set a dangerous precedent and there were errors of law in the judgement.
The Victorian Court of Appeal agreed and cut the payout to just Aus$600,000 (€380,000) earlier this month in a decision the actress called “absolutely flippant”.
Bauer had already handed over the money and the Court of Appeal today ordered Wilson to repay nearly Aus$4.2 million, including costs and more than Aus$60,000 (€38,000) in interest.
The star did not dispute that the money needed to be returned, but argued the interest should be charged at the prevailing Reserve Bank cash rate of 1.5%, rather than the 2% sought by Bauer.
The appeal court disagreed and ordered interest be paid at the higher rate.
Wilson vowed after the initial judgement to give any payout to charity and the Australian film industry. It is not clear whether she has already done so.
She had claimed a series of articles in Woman’s Day, Australian Women’s Weekly and OK Magazine in 2015 had portrayed her as a serial liar and damaged her reputation.
The Sydney-born actress told the trial she was sacked from DreamWorks animated feature films Trolls and Kung Fu Panda 3 following the stories.
But the Court of Appeal said there was no basis for her to receive financial damages for the potential loss of roles.
It found that the previous judge had relied on evidence from Wilson and two Hollywood agents to draw the conclusion that she had lost job opportunities.
Should the judge not pay the interest, as it was the courts ruling that caused this, not either opposing party.
@Tony Gordon: fair point Tony.
@Tony Gordon: can’t believe she has to pay interest. It wasn’t her fault!
The lawyers win again….big pay days…
@Dave Walsh: Lawyers get paid by the hour, not by results. That’s why settlements take place on the steps of the court ….after all the work has been done.
@m flynsk: and they would laugh and arrive at your house with the sheriff’s in a few weeks time
I would have already donated it to charity, then tell them I’ll go get the money back from this children’s charity, this homeless charity, this charity that aids families with terminally ill family members, share the names and pictures of those to be impacted in the media. Let them take the money back then …
@fintolini: excellent!
@fintolini: Brilliant. You should contact her.
@fintolini: she still would of donated the money. She would have had to give it out of her own pocket. She virtue signalled was all
@fintolini: and they would laugh in your face then arrive at your house with the sheriff’s in a few weeks time.
I love this actress! She’s brilliant & hilarious!
@CC: fantastic bit of useful information
@CC: she’s done great playing the exact same funny fat girl in every single movie she’s been in.
@Ciaran H: bit harsh don’t you think
@CC: what other movies has she been in?
@Jonathan Byrne: she’s been in pitch perfect, bachelorette, the teenager in ghost rider, she may play the funny side of things and be overweight but that shouldn’t mean she is promoted for that. It’s her acting that does the job
@CC: no that’s her thing. She makes her living by playing that role and she knows it. Fair play to her.
@CC: great contribution thanks.
@Seriously stunned: think that response was already posted.
This is very old news reported weeks ago. Slow news day.
@mary conneely:
Errr, this happened today…
@Walt Jabsco: I think she was just dying to use that phrase
have your say