Britney sues for millions
2005-12-20 08:09
Los Angeles - Pop music queen Britney Spears sued a popular magazine for $20m on Monday for an article alleging she and husband Kevin Federline had videotaped themselves having sex, her lawyer said.
Spears, 24, accused celebrity magazine US Weekly of defaming her when it falsely reported in its "Hotstuff" column in October that she and Federline taped themselves making love.
US Magazine also claimed Spears was trying desperately to prevent the public release of the tape.
According to the lawsuit filed by Spears lawyer Martin Singer in a Los Angeles court, no such tape exists.
"The article is a despicable work of fiction comprised of blatant lies from beginning to end," the complaint said.
The complaint added that Spears had warned the magazine to print a retraction and apology and only sued after it refused.
The singer of the 1999 hit song and video Baby One More Time demanded $10m in damages for libel, and $10m more for misusing her image as an entertainment star for profit without authorisation.
The trial is set for March 29 in a Beverly Hills court.
One of the country's leading pop singers, Spears has sold more than 60 million albums.
She married dancer Federline, 27, in September 2004, and recently gave birth to a baby boy.