Shortly after the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, The National Enquirer published a story which alleged that the man who discovered Hoffman's body was Hoffman's gay lover and watched Hoffman freebase coke the night before the actor's death. They based this story on an interview they claimed was with David Bar Katz, the man who discovered the body. It turns out that Katz is not gay and never gave the interview. Within four hours of publication of the story, The Enquirer was sued. Yesterday the suit was withdrawn after they reached a financial settlement with Katz. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed but it was enough money where the American Playwriting Foundation will be able to award a $45K grant to a winner of a competition for "many years to come."
Katz told The New York Times, "The issue was never me being outraged at being accused of being gay — we're theater guys, who cares? The issue was lying about the drugs, that I would betray my friend by telling confidences."
Something good comes out of this. Theatre groups always need cash.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad, maybe it will slow the bastages down next time.
ReplyDeleteHey! First time I've been able to see PSH without wanting to burst into tears! Yay
That was fast.
ReplyDeleteAll those rags print are lies!
ReplyDeleteChecking sources is no joke. Good for Katz.
ReplyDeleteTrue that Khloe. They keep saying Mason isn't really mine.
ReplyDeleteAt least they don't say OJ is your father.
DeleteFinally reading some good news. Delighted for Katz and the PF
ReplyDeleteThese magazines are a sorry excuse for journalism! Its a bunch of sensational lies, all of it. Makes me so damn mad! Scott, we know the truth, they are just looking for a "story".
ReplyDeletedon't even get me started on the filth they print about you. You're a good man Bruce.
DeleteI love it when the celebs turn lawsuits around like that and use the outcome to further strengthen the entertainment industry!
ReplyDelete"we're theater guys, who cares?" LOVE that. Can't wait till that's the attitude everywhere.
ReplyDeleteFiggy - also love that!!
DeleteUh huh honey! xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteMONROE IN DA HOUSE!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Scott! Your support means a lot. Hi Kim!
ReplyDeleteThe National Enquirer engaging in irresponsible journalism? Oh The Scandal!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is interesting to me is, he sued, he got a settlement. The Enquirer isn't sued very often, So every time celebs moan and cry that the story isn't true… (We all know about the Carol Burnett story, she won)
ReplyDeleteIf they don't sue I'll still say they either can't prove it's not true, or the truth is even worse, and half the time their own PR people give the tabs something to kill the 'really juicy' stories.
The Enquirer is disgusting. Spreading rumors and lies about a man who cannot even defend himself, because he has passed. This is low. Money is the root of all evil.
ReplyDeleteGood for him…
ReplyDeletePublicly lying about people is so not cool. It's about time those who engage in it are held accountable. Hit them in the wallet, hard.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet we're on a gossip site complaining about the Enquirer. Huh. Well, if it really didn't matter that he was labeled gay and didn't appreciate being labeled a chismosa, then why not demand that the story be retracted and his name cleared? Why sue for such a large sum of money? I feel that there is way more to this and that everything happened way too quickly.
ReplyDelete@Flirty, because news of the settlement is an acknowledgement of guilt, and no amount of retracting of stories can really undo all the damage. That's merely slap on the wrist. The best way to prevent it from occurring in the future is to make the culprits pay big time. THAT they'll remember.
ReplyDeleteWell, and the part that really pissed him off was the part about the drugs and the accusation that he would sell stories about his friend.
ReplyDeleteWhich I personally think are great things to be outraged over. And it wasn't presented as gossip - the enquirer said they had an interview with him personally. Except they didn't.
you know the enquirer is going to bait the nytimes into making a huge mistake...nytimes should be careful on its high horse
ReplyDeleteGood on him!this is the only good thing coming out of this very very sad story.
ReplyDelete"It was lying about the drugs." he says about a story about a man who died from a drug overdose.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this so much, what a mensch!
ReplyDeleteGood for Mr. Katz. I'm glad struggling theater companies will benefit.
ReplyDeleteNot that anyone expects the National Enquirer, which owns Radar online by the way, to be truthful or accurate. However this was such a slanderous and odious story, and completely made up. I'm only sorry it didn't go to court so the author and editor didn't have to get on the stand and admit how many lies they publish on a regular basis. What this shows is that David Katz is a decent person by donating so much of his very large settlement to furthering the advancement of writers well into the future. Shame on anyone who buys the Inquirer, or believe 90% of Radar.
ReplyDelete