Jean Nassif’s wife Nissy wins defamation payout from Channel 7
Nissy Nassif, who shot to online fame when her husband gave her a yellow Lamborghini, has won a defamation lawsuit against Channel 7.
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A Sydney socialite who became an online sensation when a video went viral of her husband giving her a bright yellow Lamborghini has won $100,000 in a defamation lawsuit against Channel 7.
Nissy Nassif shot to fame two years ago when the video emerged in which property developer Jean Nassif presented the expensive car to her and asked: “Congratulations Mrs Nassif … you like?”
Ms Nassif sued Channel 7 over the 2019 nightly news story, which aired soon after that video did the rounds, and alleged it defamed her along with a family-run charity she founded called Wiping Tears.
The report had claimed Wiping Tears, which aims to help disadvantaged families, spent only $5000 of $200,000 that was raised over three years.
Channel 7 defended the claims and argued the report was not defamatory.
But Justice Wendy Abraham QC ruled in favour of both Ms Nassif and Wiping Tears.
“Judgment is entered for the first applicant, Ms Nassif, in the amount of $100,000 … judgment is entered for the second applicant, Wiping Tears, in the amount of $500,” the judge said.
Justice Abraham said Ms Nassif’s legal team had mentioned removing the news report from online but she said she would leave it to her lawyers and Channel 7’s lawyers to discuss before she made orders.
Ms Nassif had sought aggravated damages for hurt allegedly caused to her personally.
The story also mentioned claims Mr Nassif’s development company was behind on plans to build car parks in Parramatta’s CBD.
Ms Nassif’s barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, argued Channel 7 had “jumped on the bandwagon” of a meme mocking the Lamborghini video but claimed the story went further to imply the Nassifs could only afford the sports car by “rorting” their businesses.
Ms Chrysanthou also said financial records showed the Wiping Tears charity, which was founded in 2015, had donated hundreds of thousands of dollars by February 2019.
In her judgment Justice Abraham said the Channel 7 news story was published in the context of people mocking the Nassifs about the Lamborghini video on social media.
“The tone of the story was mocking and derisory, it was plainly adverse to the Nassifs … the report was against the backdrop of a depiction of the lifestyle that the Nassifs lead,” Justice Abraham said.
Ms Nassif, who was also legally represented by defamation lawyer Rebekah Giles, said in a statement she would donate the money awarded to her to Wiping Tears.
“The damages awarded to me will be given to Wiping Tears … $100,000 will go a long way in continuing the good work of Wiping Tears with the help of those on the board dedicated to its success including my husband Jean,” she said.
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