Sharon Osbourne wins libel action against The Sun
15 January 2009
Download PDF of Statement in Open Court
News Group Newspapers Limited, the publishers of the Sun has today publically apologised to our client, Sharon Osbourne, for a libellous article published by the Sun on 1 October 2007 entitled “I Fear Poor Ozzy Will Die On Stage”. The article wrongly alleged that Sharon Osbourne was “driving her frail husband Ozzy Osbourne to destruction”, was working him “so hard she will kill him” and that Sharon would “keep Ozzy on the road until like Tommy Cooper he dies on stage”. The article falsely alleged that Sharon Osbourne was putting Ozzy Osbourne’s life at risk by forcing him to perform a series of live shows when he was not well enough and that her motivation to do so was to fund her exorbitant spending.
A statement read in the High Court today by Mrs Osbourne’s lawyer, John Kelly, Partner at law firm Schillings, said:
“These allegations are entirely without foundation, and were obviously extremely distressing, hurtful and damaging for Sharon Osbourne.”
News Group Newspapers accepted in court “that the allegations complained of are defamatory and untrue and ought never to have been published”, and that Mrs Osbourne “did not and would not act to put her husband’s life at risk”.
The Sun has agreed to publish an apology, has undertaken not to republish the defamatory allegations and has agreed to pay Sharon Osbourne substantial damages as well as her legal costs.
A spokesman for Sharon Osbourne said:
“Sharon is delighted to have won her case. She would prefer not to have to take legal action against the media, but had no alternative in this case. Sharon and Ozzy are pleased that they can put this matter behind them”.
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Ozzy Osbourne wins apology from the Daily Star - 5 June 2008
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