Hasselhoff Libel Payout More Than OK!

Fri., Aug. 24, 2007 8:21 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

This week's lesson from Hollywood: Crime doesn't pay. But having lies spread about your sobriety can be very rewarding indeed.

David Hasselhoff learned as much Friday, when a London court awarded him "substantial" damages from the U.K. edition of OK! magazine for a tale spun by the tabloid last month claiming the former Baywatch actor had been "drunk" and "abusive" in a Hollywood nightclub while celebrating his custody victory.

"In the past, whenever false reports about me have surfaced I have done my best to ignore them," Hasselhoff said in a statement following the verdict by London High Court Justice Teare. "However, due to the completely false allegations published by OK! magazine and others I was encouraged this time—by my children—to take a stand.

"In the future, if I choose to have a private dinner with a friend, or a date, or an outing with my children, I would like to be able to do so without fear of being libeled by irresponsible tabloid journalism."

In its July 3 edition, OK! published a story alleging the 55-year-old entertainer was "off his face" at Los Angeles' Les Deux nightclub. The same week, the U.S. edition of the glossy claimed he "drank champagne like it was water" from midnight until 2 a.m. after a judge granted him visitation rights to his two daughters in his acrimonious battle with ex-wife Pamela Bach.

The report also came in the wake of a reputation-damaging video of the actor recorded by one of his daughters and leaked online, in which he appeared drunk, tried in vain to eat a hamburger and was scolded by his daughter for his lack of sobriety.

Hasselhoff's lawyer, Simon Smith, told the court that the OK!'s boozing story was an "outrage" and patently false, adding that Hasselhoff's blood-alcohol level had been independently tested both the day before and after the custody hearing and that he was found to be completely sober.

Smith did acknowledge that Hasselhoff celebrated his legal victory at the club on June 15, but refrained from drinking alcohol, opting instead to stick with Rockstar energy drinks. He also presented a written statement from a representative for the nightclub denying that Hasselhoff ordered or imbibed any alcohol.

"The witness accompanied and sat with Mr. Hasselhoff throughout the evening and confirms that at no stage did he drink alcohol, was drunken or otherwise acted in an inappropriate manner towards staff, friends or guests," Smith said, adding that the magazine never made any attempt to contact Hasselhoff regarding the claims prior to going to print.

Smith also said that OK!'s publisher, Northen and Shell, along with its American counterparts, "Now accept that their allegations were false."

"Each defendant has agreed to publish an apology in their magazine and together have agreed to pay the claimant substantial"—though undisclosed—"damages."

Following the hearing, Hasselhoff said he was "very pleased with the outcome of this case."