Elton wins rude slur case
2006-02-16 14:28
London - Elton John won undisclosed libel
damages and an apology from a British newspaper on Thursday over
a story which said the singer had acted "in a self-important,
arrogant and rude manner" at one of his HIV/Aids charity functions.
At London's High Court, John's lawyer told the judge the
rock star had sued over a 2005 article in the Sunday Times
headlined "Rock royals get too grand" about his HIV/Aids Foundation
Summer Ball.
The story said the singer had issued a "bizarre and absurd
edict to guests at his annual charity fundraising White Tie and
Tiara summer ball not to address him unless spoken to".
Hanna Basha said the story had caused her client
considerable embarrassment and distress, particularly because he
feared it would be damaging to his fundraising efforts.
She said Times Newspapers Ltd now accepted that the
allegation was untrue and should not have been made. It has
agreed to publish an apology, and pay damages to John which he
will donate to his HIV/Aids Foundation.
The publishers will also pay his legal costs.
"As soon as the defendant found out the story was untrue -
it had been picked up from another newspaper - it immediately
apologised to Sir Elton and it is happy to repeat that apology
here today," the Times Newspaper's lawyer Alastair Brett said.
The singer set up the Elton John HIV/Aids Foundation in 1992.
The White Tie and Tiara Ball has raised at least £3ms a year for it.