Some of the country’s largest and most powerful media organisations have set aside their differences and joined forces to fight against the record defamation payout to actor Rebel Wilson last year.
Nine, Seven, Fairfax, News Corp and Macquarie Media have teamed up with the ABC to file a joint application in the Victorian Supreme Court to intervene in Bauer Media’s appeal of its $4.56 million it was ordered to pay in damages for defaming Wilson, according to The Australian.
The six media players are arguing the case will seriously impact freedom of speech in Australia.
Bauer appealed the court’s decision in November last year, saying the $4.56 million payout was “manifestly excessive”.
Wilson commenced the defamation lawsuit in May 2017 over claims the publisher made in its stable of women’s magazines – which includes Woman’s Day, The Australian Women’s Weekly, New Weekly and OK Magazine – which the actress said “gravely injured her feelings, credit and reputation”.
