Hollywood star Rebel Wilson plans to challenge a court ruling that slashed her $4.5 million defamation payout to $600,000 after magazine publisher Bauer Media successfully appealed.
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The Court of Appeal in Melbourne found it could not be proven Wilson missed out on film contracts as a result of a number of Woman's Day magazine articles painting her as a serial liar and so cut the entire $3.9 million economic damages payout.
But Wilson, who was not in court for the judgment on Thursday due to filming commitments in Europe, is unhappy with the outcome.
"I was hoping the Court of Appeal in Australia would deliver a reasonable judgement today," she tweeted on Friday.
"...ummmmm seeing as that HAS CLEARLY NOT happened I look forward to appealing!"
Wilson, who announced prior to the original defamation ruling the case wasn't about money, reiterated she had planned to give the payout from the case to "good causes", including charities.
"That's now $4 million less going to less fortunate Australians and leaves a billionaire corporation, proven guilty of malicious defamation, being able to get away with their seriously harmful acts for a very low pay day! Clearly not fair. Come on Australia," she tweeted.
The high-profile defamation suit was over several articles, published in 2015, saying the Pitch Perfect actress had lied to further her career.
Wilson said the articles damaged her reputation and that she lost feature film roles and future earnings as a result.
She won the suit and in September was awarded the largest defamation payout in Australian legal history.
The $4.5 million awarded by Supreme Court Justice John Dixon included $3.9 million in economic damages relating to a loss of income.
But Bauer Media appealed, saying it was excessive.
The appeals court on Thursday found there was no basis for Wilson to be awarded damages for the potential loss of roles.
"The evidence Ms Wilson relied upon was not sufficient to establish that there existed the valuable lost opportunities she contended," Justice Pamela Tate told the court.
"Ms Wilson was unable to establish that there was a causal connection between the defamatory publications, for which Bauer Media was responsible, and any loss.
"This court has therefore rejected Ms Wilson's claim that she suffered economic loss."
The Court of Appeal also reduced Wilson's non-economic damages from $650,000 to $600,000.
Australian Associated Press
