MAFS star and Nine settle defamation case, apologising to cafe owner for ‘completely false’ allegations
Married at First Sight star Cyrell Paule and Nine have settled the defamation case brought against them by takeaway shop owner Deborah Wilson, issuing apologies for wrongly accusing her of racism and assault.
The case was resolved at mediation on 18 December and settled last week. The terms of the settlement saw Paule post an apology to her 245,000 Instagram followers and on her personal Facebook page, which must remain on her accounts permanently.
“Around 9 June 2019 I published an Instagram post in which I stated that I had been the victim of a racist slur and physical assault. I wrongly alleged that the perpetrator of that conduct was the owner of the Pelican café,” said the apology, published on Christmas Eve, a day after the court orders were made following the successful mediation.
“I was wrong. It was later that I found out that it was a customer of the café. Neither the owner of the café nor any of her staff had anything to do with the incident. I understand that my Instagram post has caused serious damage to the Pelican café and I sincerely apologise to the owner and staff for this.”
The video in question featured Paule claiming that the “restaurant owner” called her a “black monkey”, grabbed her around the throat, and assaulted Paule’s then-partner, former Love Island Australia contestant Eden Dally. She did not withdraw the allegations after police confirmed neither Wilson nor her staff – her two daughters – were involved in the altercation.
Wilson said the video was “over-sensationalised” and greatly injured her reputation.
Paule appeared on this year’s season of Married at First Sight
The defamation proceedings, reported by Mumbrella in October, also targeted an article published to the Nine and 9Honey websites, which repeated the allegations.
“On about 10 June 2019 9Honey published an article in which it reported allegations by reality TV participant Cyrell Paule that she had been the victim of a racist slur and physical assault. The article wrongly alleged that the perpetrator of that conduct was the owner of the Pelican Café. That was completely false,” Nine’s apology read.
“Neither the owner of the café, nor any of her staff had anything to do with the incident. 9Honey unreservedly withdraws the allegations and apologises to the owner and staff of the Pelican Café for the harm caused by the publication.”
Aside from the apologies, the terms of the settlement are confidential. Each party will pay its own legal costs.
Paule appeared on the latest season of Nine’s ratings juggernaut MAFS, earning a reputation as ‘Cyclone Cyrell’. Her and fellow reality star Dally have split since the Pelican Cafe incident, but are expecting a child together.
Brittney Rigby was Mumbrella's deputy managing editor - news and analysis. She left Mumbrella in April 2021.
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topics
9Honey
Cyclone Cyrell
Cyrell Paule
Deborah Wilson
defamation
Eden Dally
MAFS
Married at First Sight
Nine
Pelican Cafe
