Patrick Ecclesine/FOXGordon Ramsay has settled his beef against a U.K. journalist—and he didn't even have to use the F-word!
Well, probably not much, anyway.
According to TheWrap.com, the Hell's Kitchen proprietor has reached a settlement in his lawsuit against former News of the World editor Phil Hall, whom Ramsay accused of selling stolen photos and personal information about the celebrity chef to Britain's Daily Mail. (Incidentally, NOTW closed down last year after being embroiled in a hacking scandal.)
So, what does Ramsay get for his troubles?
The specific amount has not been disclosed, but Hall has agreed to donate money to the Scottish Spina Bifida Association and Ramsay's behest.
Hall, who also founded the public relations firm Phil Hall Associates, issued a public apology to Ramsay as well, in which he admitted to obtaining information about the celebrity chef through "illegitimate means"—namely, he says he was approached by Ramsay's father-in-law, Chris Hutcheson, in late 2010 with the ill-gotten goods.
""I accept that, given the public breakdown of the relationship between Mr Hutcheson and Mr Ramsay, of which I was fully aware at the time, I should have guessed that Mr Hutcheson was not entitled to this information and in all likelihood may have come by it via illegitimate means," read Hall's mea culpa.
"I would like to offer Gordon, [his wife] Tana and their family a full and unreserved apology for my actions and any distress caused, and, at Mr Ramsay's request, I have made a donation to a charity of his choice."
Last month, Ramsay reportedly agreed to pay Hutcheson $3 million to put an end to ongoing litigation (including Ramsay's accusations of hacking and swindling on Hutcheson's part) and buy out the elder man's 30 percent stake in Gordon Ramsay Holdings.
The chef must really love his wife.