Amercian actor Josh Hartnett, star of a string of movies including Black Hawk Down and Pearl Harbor, has accepted a £20,000 libel payout and a public apology from the Daily Mirror at London’s High Court.
Hartnett’s solicitor, Graham Atkins, told Mr Justice David Eady that the Mirror article alleged that the actor “took a mystery lady to the Soho Hotel in London and that ‘their steamy shenanigans were caught on CCTV’.
“It further alleged that ‘dumbstruck’ and ‘cringing hotel workers saw all of Josh’s x-rated moves,’ which resulted in the Soho Hotel asking the claimant to ‘take his personal business elsewhere in the future.'”
Atkins said the tabloid had now accepted that the allegations were entirely false.
He added: “The incident never happened and accordingly the Soho Hotel has never asked the claimant to ‘take his personal business elsewhere in future.’ Indeed, the claimant remains a welcome guest there.”
Victoria Jolliffe, solicitor for Mirror Group Newspapers told the judge the paper apologised to Harnett for any distress, hurt and embarrassment caused by the article.
In addition to the damages, which will be donated to charity, the paper will also pay his legal costs.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
