Properly Outer Actions of Tensor Categories on C$^*$-algebras

We discuss proper outerness for finite index endomorphisms and finite index bimodules of simple C$^*$-algebras, extending recent similar results by Izumi concerning the purely infinite setting. Our main result is that proper outerness holds automatically for finite index outer endomorphisms of simple C$^*$-algebras. Consequently, freeness for outer actions of unitary tensor categories on simple C$^*$-algebras is also shown to hold automatically. As applications, we obtain structural results about potentially infinite index irreducible discrete inclusions of C$^*$-algebras, such as C$^*$-irreducibility.