CAMERON DIAZ SETTLES WITH ENQUIRER

Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz has settled for substantial libel damages from an American tabloid the other day, after the publication falsely claimed she was cheating on then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake with a married man. The "Charlie's Angels" star, 34, filed a lawsuit against publishers American Media Inc. over the offending article which appeared on the National Enquirer Web site in May 2005, with accompanying photos accusing Diaz of having an affair with MTV producer Shane Nickerson -- the man behind her adventure TV show "Trippin'".
Lawyers for the National Enquirer told London's High Court today the publication accepted the allegations were unfounded and "ought never to have been published." They agreed to pay the actress an undisclosed amount, and issued a public apology to Diaz, Timberlake, Nickerson and his wife for any distress their article may have caused. Diaz previously settled a similar libel claim with British newspaper The Sun in July 2005, after it printed the same story.

Apology to Cameron Diaz from National Enquirer

On May, 23, 2005 we published an article in our magazine and on our website entitled “Cameron Caught Cheating.” That article was accompanied by photographs which purported to show Ms. Diaz, who at the time was dating Justin Timberlake, kissing Shane Nickerson, a married man. We have subsequently been informed, and accept that, the relevant incident involved nothing more than Ms. Diaz giving a friend a good bye hug and accept that there is no question of a romantic relationship between Ms. Diaz and Mr. Nickerson. We are happy to set the record straight and apologize to Ms. Diaz and to Mr. Nickerson and his family for any distress caused.