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Rebel Wilson wins $3.6M in defamation case

By Wade Sheridan
Rebel Wilson attends the MTV Movie Awards on April 9, 2016. Wilson has won $3.6 million from her lawsuit against Bauer Media. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
1 of 2 | Rebel Wilson attends the MTV Movie Awards on April 9, 2016. Wilson has won $3.6 million from her lawsuit against Bauer Media. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Rebel Wilson has been awarded $3.6 million in her defamation case against Bauer Media after magazine Women's Day published articles stating that the actress lied about her name, age and childhood.

The judgement comes after a unanimous jury found Bauer Media guilty of defamation in Australian court in June. Wilson's lawyers, while speaking to CNN, said the amount is the "largest defamation damages award in Australian legal history."

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During the case, Wilson and her lawyers argued that the articles were inaccurate and damaged her reputation which caused her to lose two roles, E! News reported.

Wilson announced the end of the court battle on Instagram Wednesday alongside a photo of herself surrounded by photographers as she exited the courthouse.

"When the jury delivered its verdict they answered every single question in my favor," the Pitch Perfect star wrote as part of a long post that mentions how the release of the articles was timed with the release of Pitch Perfect 2 and was based on claims made by an anonymous source.

"It was important for me to set the record straight, especially because I have so many young fans. I also feel like it's important to stand up to bullies," she continued. "I have been awarded a record sum from Justice Dixon. I will be putting that money to good use by donating it to charity and investing in an Australian film."

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"I'm looking forward to getting back to entertaining everyone!"

Today was the end of a long and hard court battle against Bauer Media who viciously tried to take me down with a series of false articles. When the jury delivered its verdict they answered every single question in my favor. I am eternally grateful to those ladies. Today Justice Dixon gave his considered full judgement. He accepted that Bauer Media subjected me to a sustained and malicious attack timed precisely to the launch of Pitch Perfect 2. It was hurtful and devastating that a corporation would do something like that, knowing that their paid anonymous source and stories were dodgy. The learned judge accepted without qualification that I had an extremely high reputation and that the damage inflicted on me was substantial. He said that the nature of this aggravated defamation and the unprecedented extent of its dissemination (meaning it caused a worldwide media firestorm) makes vindication of particular importance. It was important for me to set the record straight, especially because I have so many young fans. I also feel like it's important to stand up to bullies. I have been awarded a record sum from Justice Dixon. I will be putting that money to good use by donating it to charity and investing in an Australian film ( but obviously can't say exactly or do anything now as I won't receive the money until everything is finalized). I thank Justice Dixon so much. And I'm looking forward to getting back to entertaining everyone!

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A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson) on

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