Jon Furniss/WireImage.comAnything goes for Katy Perry and Russell Brand—anything, that is, but calling out the sanctity (and singularity) of their marriage.
The pop superstar has sicced her lawyers on NW, an Australian tabloid, after it published a story alleging that Perry cheated on her funny hubby just months after they tied the knot.
It's a nice twist from the usual Brand-womanizing narrative (right, Helen Mirren?) but fortunately it's simply not true. And since they've messed with the wrong (faithful) woman, now they're gonna have to pay.
The story that prompted the legal action was blazed on the magazine's front cover, accompanied by the headline, "World Exclusive: Katy's Other Man—Split Fears After Shock Revelation."
The supposed man in question was record producer Benny Blanco, who has worked with Britney Spears, Ke$ha and Justin Bieber in the past year and whom the tabloid claimed had an "intimate relationship" with Perry while working on her second album—specifically, while he mixed "California Gurls."
(Fun fact: he didn't even mix that track! Isn't truth fun?)
According to NW, which has a history of being even faster and looser with the facts than our own stateside checkout counter material, Perry's "friend" Angela Summers and an "insider" named Marlon David went on record confirming that the extramarital affair took place and that the singer tried to hide the relationship from Brand.
The only problem: Perry has never heard of either of those people.
While the singer possibly would've been placated by a simple apology from the tabloid, it has refused to issue one over the clearly inaccurate story, hence her decision to bring on the legal pain in Australia's Victoria Supreme Court Wednesday.
In addition to declaring that the publication never bothered to check facts or ask the newlyweds for comment before going to press, Perry claimed she had been "gravely injured in her reputation and feelings [and] has suffered distress, embarrassment and humiliation" as a result of the article.
She's looking not only for damages, but "aggravated damages," meaning if she wins, she'll likely be the recipient of a six-figure payout. For the time being, in a bout of either great or horrible timing, Perry is currently Down Under for the Australian leg of her tour. Now, guess which publication won't be getting any backstage access?