Hollywood
Hasselhoff accepts 'substantial' libel damages over drunk claim
Actor David Hasselhoff has accepted “substantial” libel damages over accusations in a magazine that he was drunk and abusive in a Hollywood nightclub.
His lawyer, Simon Smith, told Mr Justice Teare at London’s High Court that the allegations against the former Baywatch and Knight Rider star - now a judge on the popular show America’s Got Talent with Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan - were “entirely false”.
Mr Smith said that an article in the UK edition of OK! Magazine on July 3 had accused Mr Hasselhoff of being “off his face” and “abusive” in a Los Angeles club shortly after winning a custody battle for his daughters.
The previous day, the magazine's US edition had claimed that Mr Hasselhoff attended Les Deux nightclub and "drank champagne like it was water" from midnight until 2am.
But Mr Smith told the judge that Mr Hasselhoff no longer drinks alcohol and had been "independently tested" as being sober on the day and the day following the custody ruling.
Mr Smith said that the publishers, Northern and Shell and its American arm, “now accept that their allegations were false”.
He added: “Each defendant has agreed to publish an apology in their magazine and together have agreed to pay the claimant substantial damages.”
Mr Smith told the judge that a senior representative from the night club had provided a written statement confirming that Mr Hasselhoff attended the night club on June 15 to celebrate his victory but did not drink alcohol.
The lawyer added: “Rather, he drank a couple of Rockstar energy drinks. The witness accompanied and sat with Mr Hasselhoff throughout the evening and confirms that at no stage did he drink alcohol, was drunken or otherwise acted in an inappropriate manner towards staff, friends or guests.”
In a statement Mr Hasselhoff said he was “very pleased with the outcome of this case”.
(Published by Times Online, August 24, 2007)
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