Rebel Wilson Wins Defamation Lawsuit

Australian comedian Rebel Wilson has won her defamation lawsuit against magazine publisher Bauer Media.

REBEL WILSON WINS DEFAMATION LAWSUIT

The company published a series of tabloid articles claiming that Wilson lied about her real name, age, and childhood experiences. Wilson took them to court, saying that their words had cost her significant acting roles and income.

The suit lasted four weeks and included testimony from Wilson herself, as well as local journalists and several Hollywood celebrities. The six-person jury unanimously voted in favor of Wilson.

“I was hoping that the jury would do the right thing and send a message to these tabloids,” Wilson said. “And they’ve done that, so for me it’s over in my mind.”

“The reason I’m here is not for damages, it’s to clear my name. And the fact the jury has done that unanimously and answered every single of the 40 questions in my favor I think proves what I’ve been saying all along,” the actress added.

“Just crushed my defamation case in Australia x thank you to all my family, friends and supporters! I had to take a stand. I had to stand up to a bully, a media organization Bauer Media Group who maliciously took me down in May 2015 with a series of grubby and completely false articles,” the actress said in an Instagram post. “Far too often tabloid magazines and the ‘journalists’ who work for them don’t abide by professional ethics. Far too often their conduct can only be described as disgraceful and disgusting! I’m glad that the lovely ladies of the jury have agreed with me. Their unanimous and overwhelming verdict has sent a clear message. I love my job as an actress and as an entertainer and I look forward to rebuilding my career now that the record has been set straight. Thank you so much everybody!”

Wilson’s breakout role came in 2011’s Bridesmaids alongside Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, and also found fame in the Pitch Perfect movies. She was slated to lend her voice to Kung Fu Panda 3, but the makers said she had become “too divisive” to act in the family film, after the tabloid stories went public. Wilson claims she was also fired from Trolls, and was not offered any other roles.

A spokeswoman from Bauer Media said the publisher would “consider its options” following the verdict.

“You’re not popular for long in Hollywood, you have a few years until you go out of fashion,” Wilson concluded. “They took those two years away from me doing what I love, which is entertaining people and making people laugh. Not everyone has the strength to stand up for themselves, but I do.”