Jessica Biel Wins Court Settlement Over False Story Published About Her Marriage

On October 21, Jessica Biel and husband Justin Timberlake prevailed in a Dublin courtroom over British publication Heat magazine. The publication apologized for printing a false story about Timberlake...
Jessica Biel Wins Court Settlement Over False Story Published About Her Marriage
Written by Val Powell
  • On October 21, Jessica Biel and husband Justin Timberlake prevailed in a Dublin courtroom over British publication Heat magazine. The publication apologized for printing a false story about Timberlake flirting with other women while partying in Paris last August during the European leg of his tour.

    According to a statement read by the defense in court, the September 6 to September 12 edition of Heat contained an article with the headlines “Justin Timberlake gets flirty with another woman,” “It is not his wife!” and “The flirty photos that rocked Justin and Jessica’s marriage.”

    “The article was based on an unfounded report regarding Justin Timberlake’s alleged behavior at a club following a performance in Paris, to celebrate a birthday, and also included a number of purported statements improperly attributed to Jessica Biel, which Heat now understands had never been made by her,” said the defense team. “The Defendant accepts that the article was false and withdraws any inferences that questioned the state of Justin and Jessica’s marriage. The Defendant regrets any embarrassment caused to the couple and unreservedly apologizes to them.”

    — The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) October 21, 2014

    The couple’s lawyers reportedly confirmed that a settlement had been reached after arguments were heard by the president of the High Court, Justice Nicholas Kearns. Although the amount of the settlement was not revealed, Paul Tweed of Johnsons Solicitors gave a statement to reporters on behalf of Biel and Timberlake.

    “Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are very satisfied with this categoric retraction of what was a false and unfounded story, together with the comprehensive apology from Bauer Consumer Media, the publishers of Heat magazine,” Tweed said.

    Meanwhile, Biel and Timberlake are apparently enjoying being married to each other, contrary to the false story’s claims. Biel recently flew to Australia to join her husband while he was on tour earlier this month. The couple, who wed in 2012, reportedly celebrated their second anniversary in New Zealand.

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