Lisa Marie Not Suing? Fat Chance

Mon., Mar. 10, 2008 12:00 PM PDT by Gina Serpe

Britain's Daily Mail wasn't just chewing the fat with its commentary last week about Lisa Marie Presley's seeming weight gain. It was, according to the singer, engaging in libelous behavior.

Elvis' progeny, who disclosed "under the gun" on Thursday that she was pregnant, has filed suit against the tabloid over the article for alleging she had an "unhealthy appetite" and was "growing like her dad."

According to Presley's U.K. lawyer Simon Smith, the allegations left the singer "deeply upset and offended...especially as it was widely published just as she and her family were meant to be celebrating her happy news."

Per Smith, the rapid online dissemination of the Mail's story forced the 40-year-old to publicly announce her pregnancy. As a result, she filed suit Monday in London High Court against the tabloid's publishers, Associated Newspapers. She is requesting an apology and undisclosed damages.

For their part, a spokesperson for the Daily Mail said being served with the lawsuit was the first they'd heard that Presley was displeased with their coverage.

"We are investigating the matter," the newspaper said in a statement.

A wholly unflattering article comparing the singer and her late father, in the latter part of his career, appeared in the tabloid back in December.

Titled "Looking Just Like Dad (Or Why Elvis' Girl Must Return to Slender)," the article featured photos of both Presleys and criticized the King for having "piled on the pounds"—also listing a rundown of the some of his most infamous and calorie-laden favorite snacks. The item said her weight is "one inheritance for which Lisa Marie Presley might not thank her illustrious father."

Last week, several gossip sites picked up on the mocking theme.

In response, in a posting labeled "Confirmation Under the Gun," the younger Presley announced that "after being the target all week of slanderous and degrading stories, horribly manipulated pictures and articles in the media, I have had to show my cards and announce under the gun and under vicious personal attack that I am in fact pregnant."

The rocker blamed the tabloids for forcing her hand in announcing the pregnancy, saying that being faced with "a London publication and then New York and Chicago all writing false defamatory degrading stories about all of the dark possible reasons I could be putting on weight," left her with no choice but to disclose the expectancy.

The baby will be the first child for Presley and her rocker hubby Michael Lockwood. She has two children, 18-year-old daughter Riley and 15-year-old son Sam, with former spouse Danny Keough.

(Originally published March 10, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. PST)