Rebel Wilson has privately settled a defamation suit filed against her by a journalist she mis-identified and called ‘total scum’ on Twitter.
The Pitch Perfect star agreed to pay Elizabeth Wilson, a senior features editor at House and Garden Magazine, $120,000 after incorrectly publicly shaming her for ‘harassing’ the actress’ grandmother, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Rebel’s tweet from February last year included a picture of the woman, and was shared with her millions of followers.
When it was clear the actress had got Ms Wilson’s identity wrong, she removed the tweets and apologised, but the journalist proceeded with the defamation suit.
Rebel Wilson has settled a defamation case filed against her by a journalist she incorrectly identified as a woman who had ‘harassed’ her grandmother. Reports claim the actress will pay out $120,000
Rebel pictured Elizabeth Wilson, a senior features editor at Home and Garden, and called her ‘total scum’ over Twitter, where she boasts millions of followers – but she was directing her anger at the wrong Elizabeth Wilson
The case should have been heard in the NSW Supreme Court last week on August 14, but it is reported the Wilson women settled privately about a week earlier.
Rebel recently won a defamation suit of her own over Bauer Media, who she claimed published incorrect articles on her private life in 2015, which cost her acting roles.
The stories in question claimed she was a serial liar and told ‘pork pies’ about her real name, age and childhood to make it in Hollywood.
In closing statements at the Victorian Supreme Court last month, the actress’ barrister claimed the cost of losing one film role, estimated at $5.893million, and general damages of $1.2million.
It comes after Rebel won her own defamation case against Bauer Media, who published eight articles about her in 2015 that the actress claims lost her acting roles
Barrister Matt Collins QC said there was a ‘degree of art and guesswork involved’, when calculating the actress’ losses.
Though a payout amount has not yet been reached, Rebel, 37, vowed to donate every cent to charities, scholarships and the Australian film industry.
She took to Twitter in the early hours of the morning after her case was won to make the announcement.
‘Re my defamation case win, any $’s I receive will go to charity, scholarships or invested into the Aussie film industry to provide jobs,’ she wrote.
The tweet was quickly followed up with another which read: ‘I take being a role model very seriously’.
Ms Wilson is currently in the US filming Isn’t It Romantic, where she stars alongside Liam Hemsworth.
The film is expected to be released on Valentine’s Day in 2019.
