Canberra - Actress Rebel Wilson was Wednesday ordered by an
Australian court to hand back 4.1 million dollars (3 million US
dollars) that she received as part of a defamation payout from
magazine publisher Bauer Media.
Earlier this month, Wilson's payout was reduced drastically from 4.7
million dollars to just 600,000 dollars after a successful appeal by
Bauer, which claimed the original payment was excessive.
The "Pitch Perfect" and "Bridesmaids" star was in September awarded
the highest ever payout in Australia for damages resulting from a
series of 2015 magazine articles that made her out to be a liar.
But the Court of Appeal on Wednesday ordered Wilson to repay Bauer
Media around 4.1 million dollars, including around 60,000 dollars in
interest.
She was also ordered to pay 80 per cent of Bauer's appeal costs.
Wilson, 38, was not present in court on Wednesday.
The Germany-based publisher had transferred the original 4.7 million
dollars payout to Wilson within three weeks of the September
judgement that included 650,000 dollars in general damages and 3.9
million dollars in special damages and other legal costs.
The appeal in June found there was no basis for her to be awarded
financial or special damages for the potential loss of roles and also
reduced general damages from 650,000 to 600,000 dollars.
Last year, Wilson took Bauer media to court for printing in their
magazines eight articles in 2015 which claimed she had fabricated
untruths about her real name, age and childhood.
The articles defamed her and damaged her career and caused her to be
sacked from major films "Trolls" and "Kung Fu Panda 3" because she
was considered "too divisive," Wilson had alleged.