Photo by Broadimage / Rex Features
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and JESSICA BIEL have settled a legal battle with bosses of a U.K. magazine.
The couple sued the publishers of Heat magazine, Bauer Consumer Media, for defamation earlier this month (Oct14) over an article published in September (14) which contained pictures of the singer at a party in France and quotes attributed to Biel.
The case, which was filed at the High Court in Dublin, Ireland, was resolved at a hearing on Tuesday (21Oct14) after the parties reached an undisclosed settlement.
The couple’s lawyer Paul Tweed says in a statement, “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.The couple will not be making any further comment in relation to this matter, but will not hesitate to take similar legal action if false allegations regarding the state of their marriage are repeated.”
A statement from the publishers, which was read in court, adds, “The article was based on an unfounded report… 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 apologises to them.”