Rebel jury told to tell off tabloids

REBEL Wilson’s lawyer has implored the jury in the Hollywood actor’s defamation case to send a clear message to tabloid magazines and “hold them accountable”.

Matthew Collins, QC says, Wilson’s “raw” and “candid” testimony during her defamation trial against Bauer Media is evidence she is “obviously not a serial liar”.

Dr Collins praised the Pitch Perfect actor’s composure during the past three weeks in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

He asked the jury to return a verdict in favour of Wilson to “send a message” to tabloid magazines that it’s not okay to run stories without giving people a right to reply, or to pay anonymous sources for dubious information.

“Hold them accountable,” Dr Collins told the jury yesterday. He said Wilson needed the jury’s verdict in order to restore her reputation. “She’s not here for money.”

Wilson, 37, is suing Bauer Media for defamation over a series of articles in May 2015 she says damaged her reputation by painting her as a serial liar and put her out of work for a year and a half.

The articles claimed to reveal the truth about Wilson’s “real” name, age and childhood after the actor added a touch of “fantasy” in order to “make it in Hollywood”.

The actor has maintained that she never lied to journalists. The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict on Tuesday afternoon.