Madonna wins apology and substantial damages from Mail on Sunday. Madonna to donate damages to Raising Malawi.
6 October 2009
Download PDF of Statement in Open Court
Download PDF of press release
Read apology from the Daily Mail - 15 October 2009
The Mail on Sunday published Madonna’s private never before published wedding photographs with no authorization on its front page with the words, “World Exclusive Never Before Seen Pictures of Madonna and Guy’s Wedding. Full Story and Pictures Pages 14-17” 19 October 2008, just 3 days after Madonna had announced she was divorcing. Further photographs were published in a double page spread inside the newspaper with the words “World Exclusive Pictures”. In total 10 photographs of Madonna’s wedding were published. The Mail on Sunday article also stated that Madonna’s wedding was “The Celebrity Event of the Year though no photographers were allowed in, and until today no pictures have ever been published.”
Madonna’s lawyer, John Kelly of Schillings, told the London High Court:- “The Mail on Sunday did not provide Madonna with any warning that it intended to publish her private wedding photographs. Had it done so, she would have sought and obtained an injunction preventing publication of the wedding photographs to prevent her privacy from being invaded.”
Associated Newspapers Limited, the publishers of The Mail on Sunday, has admitted liability for breaching Madonna’s privacy and copyright infringement, has consented to judgment being entered against it and has destroyed all copies of the infringing photographs in its possession.
Associated Newspapers accepts “that it was wrong to act in this way” and has offered “its sincere apologies to Madonna and her family for invading her privacy and infringing her copyright by publishing her wedding photographs without her consent”.
Mr Kelly told Mr Justice Peter Smith “Associated Newspapers is here to publicly apologise to Madonna” and “As a mark of its regret, Associated Newspapers has also agreed to publish an apology in the Mail on Sunday and to pay Madonna substantial damages as well as her legal costs.”
A spokeswoman for Madonna said: “Madonna intends to donate the damages to her charity Raising Malawi whose aim is to bring an end to the extreme poverty and hardship endured by Malawi’s two million orphans and vulnerable children.”
Related articles
Madonna, Court Victory, 18 December 2008
Madonna secures apology from OK! magazine, 1 December 2008
For enquires please contact:
Schillings
+44 (0)20 7034 9000
legal@schillings.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Raising Malawi (raisingmalawi.org) is a charitable foundation co founded by Madonna which provides immediate direct physical assistance, creates longterm sustainability, education and psycho-social programs for the two million orphans affected by Aids in Malawi.