Angelina-Brad Lies Cost Gossip Rag Some Shekels

Rumors of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie splitting up are always popping up all over the net. Even if the superstar couple are not reported to be splitting, if they can work in something about Jennifer Aniston and jealousy, it’ll be out there. If that doesn’t work, there’s always the adoption rumors.

Last January, The News of the World, went a bit too far with it, claiming that the couple had already seen attorneys to work out custody. Brad and Angelina sued them, saying the info was not only false, but intrusive and the power couple have emerged victorious.

An attorney representing Pitt and Jolie appeared in London’s High Court on their behalf. Brad and Angelina did not appear. Their attorney said that News Group Newspapers accepted the allegations were “false and intrusive”.

The specific story appeared under the headline “Pitts all over,” and identified at least one attorney as having been consulted. However, a statement from Schillings Lawyers was offered as proof that the attorney, Sorrell Trope, never met the couple.

“I have never met… your clients or had any involvement with either of them. The foregoing is true with respect to all other members of this firm,” said Trope in a letter quoted in the statement.

The News of the World argued that it had acted in good faith but in the final analysis, agreed to publish an apology. It will also pay Pitt and Jolie’s legal costs. Jolie and Pitt plan to donate their windfall to their charity, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

The matter was discussed on HLN news and Showbiz Tonight — they said it’s easier to sue for libel in the UK than it is in the USA, so it’s not anticipated that the verdict will do anything to stem gossip of Pitt and Jolie splitting up over here. This was interesting because I thought the reason Pitt and Jolie were able to sue was because the original article contained that statement about not only actually seeing an attorney, but naming one so it was something they could hang their hats on, so to speak. They were able to prove it was untrue.

Everyone knows the gossip rags can get away with a lot of innuendo but when there is a blatant falsehood, even if they attribute it to an unnamed sources ‘close’ to the celebrity, we’d hope the celebrity could sue in the USA too.

Showbiz Tonight’s AJ Hammer said he imagines that when Brad and Angelina are in their 80s, gossip rags will still be publishing breakup rumors.

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Tags: angelina, brad, couples, jennifer