Posted July 19, 200619 yr Tabloid Retracts Britney Spears Stories FOXNews reported that The National Enquirer apologized to Britney Spears in its British edition Tuesday for reporting that she was ready to divorce Kevin Federline. The articles were published June 5 and June 12 under the headlines,â€Britney marriage is over!†and “Britney and Kevin: And now their divorce! “Both stories were vaguely sourced to unidentified friends of the couple. The retraction and apology said National Enquirer officials “now accept that their marriage is not over and they are not getting divorced. These allegations are untrue and we now accept Britney’s position that the statements are without foundation. We apologize for any distress caused.†A London lawyer representing American Media Inc., the Boca Raton, Fla.-based publisher of the National Enquirer, signed a settlement agreement with Paul Tweed, the Belfast lawyer representing Spears in Britain and Ireland. The settlement requires a published apology, but no cash damages. Spears pursued a libel action on this side of the Atlantic, rather than in the United States, because British and Irish laws are much more plaintiff-friendly. “The couple are very satisfied with the Enquirer’s prompt and good-faith response,†Tweed said in a phone interview from Cape Cod, Mass., where he is on vacation. He confirmed the settlement meant the National Enquirer would not be sued, nor be required to publish the apology in the United States.
