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  1. Media Law
March 4, 2011

Roger Moore’s wife sues Mail over Taki affair claim

By Sarah Limbrick

Sir Roger Moore’s wife is demanding damages for defamation over a story that appeared in the Ephraim Hardcastle column of the Daily Mail.

Lady Kristina Moore, who is known as Kiki, claims the story suggested she had an affair with Taki Theodoracopulos in the 1950s then left him because a wealthy 90-year-old Frenchman offered a fortune to sleep with her.

According to a writ filed at the High Court, the story also claimed Lady Moore behaved in a ‘meretricious and promiscuous manner’by ‘knocking’around the French Riviera chasing wealthy men.

Lady Moore, the fourth wife of former James Bond star Sir Roger, says she was hurt, distressed and embarrassed by the story, which also injured her reputation.

She is seeking aggravated damages, citing the highly offensive and damaging nature of the allegations and stating that no effort was made to check the story with her first.

If the paper had checked with her, or with Theodoracopulos, it would have discovered the claims were completely untrue, the writ claims, as the woman referred to as Kiki in the story was someone completely different.

According to the writ, the paper has refused to accept the story was defamatory of her, or to admit liability, let alone apologise for the distressed caused to her.

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In addition, the writ says, the paper has published a statement from Theodoracopulos confirming the allegations were false and that he was referring to a different Kiki.

Lady Moore, who has instructed solicitors Harbottle and Lewis, is seeking an injunction banning repetition of the claims.

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