Rebel Wilson loses Australia defamation payout appeal
The "Pitch Perfect" star was awarded Aus$4.5 million (US$3.3 million) in damages.
SYDNEY (AFP) - Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson on Friday said she was proud to "stand up to a bully" despite losing a bid to reinstate a multi-million-dollar defamation payout from an Australian publisher.
The "Pitch Perfect" star was awarded Aus$4.5 million (US$3.3 million) in damages against Bauer Media last year over articles claiming she lied about her age and background to further her career.
It was the largest defamation penalty in Australian legal history and drew criticism from across the country’s publishing industry, which said it set a dangerous precedent.
Bauer appealed the award and a court earlier this year ordered Wilson to return Aus$4.1 million of the damages.
Wilson, who said she had missed out on lucrative roles as a result of the Bauer articles, applied to the High Court to appeal the decision.
The application was rejected by the court at Friday’s hearing in Canberra as Wilson watched from the public gallery.
Outside the court, the Australian star told reporters "the whole reason for bringing this case is that I really wanted to stand up to a bully, which was Bauer Media".
"And I’m so proud of myself that I did that, and saw it out right to the bitter end."
