Robbie Williams receives damages over claims he is secretly gay

By Benjamin Cohen • December 6, 2005 - 0:00

Mr William's barrister, Tom Shields QC, told the court that the singer “is not, and has never been, homosexual”

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Pop star, Robbie Williams has accepted substantial libel damages from the publishers of the People Newspaper and the publishers of the Daily Star over claims that he is secretly gay.

The claims that we made in the People newspaper, Star and Hot Stars Magazine in 2004 claimed that the former Take That star had engaged in casual gay sex.

MGN Ltd and Northern Shell plc, the publishers in question have accepted that the stories were unfounded and agreed to pay undisclosed damages.

Mr William's barrister, Tom Shields QC, told the court that the singer "is not, and has never been, homosexual."

The court heard that the People's front page story," Robbie's secret gay lover" insinuated that the star intended to mislead the public by claiming to be straight whilst in reality, the newspaper claimed that he engaged in gay sex with strangers.

The newspaper further claimed that the singer had enticed a stranger into a toilet in a Manchester nightclub where he asked the man to perform a sexual act. The People also claimed that Mr Williams engaged in a gay sexual act with a stranger behind the club.

Zoe Norden, solicitor for MGN and Northern Shell, apologised on behalf of her clients: "I accept that the allegations to which my friend has referred were untrue. The defendant apologises to the claimant and expresses its regret for the injury and distress caused."

The publishers will print apologies to the star and pay an undisclosed sum in damages in addition to Mr Williams' legal costs.

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