How can tabloids like "The Enquirer" and "Sun" print gossip without being sued by celebs?

Question

My dad swears up and down that what tabloids like Enquirer and Sun print in their magazines is true, and that it CAN'T be lies because they would get sued for defamation of the person's reputation...and I keep trying to tell him that they can print gossip!Does anyone know how that works?

Answer 1

it's called freedom of speech. not to mention do you think celebrities have time to fight all those stories in court? it isn't worth their time. there has been SEVERAL occasions that celebrities have fought back. most recent example is Britney Spears. The magazine agreed to recant the story about her marriage breakup.
has your dad ever seen some of those wacky magazines that claim people having alien babies w/ 1 eye and 6 legs?!?! does he believe those also?

Answer 2

If you say something about another with the intention of hurting that person's reputation, you've slandered that person. Likewise, if you write something that is untrue to damage that person's reputation, then you've libeled that person.
Carol Burnett sued one of the tabloids successfully years ago. It is usually very expensive to hire lawyers to pursue such crimes. These actions are not usually regarded as criminal cases but instead are handled as civil cases. Part of the reason that these tabloids get away with their libel is that they use shady sources whom they quote as "a source who wishes to remain anonymous," etc. Also, reporters often refuse to name their sources, as a way to get people to divulge dirt on others. Often, the only thing that gets them to name their sources is a bit of time in the clink for contempt of court once a civil case results from the offending libelous statements. Consequently, celebrities often opt to just let such lies pass by the wayside, hoping that later publically reported facts will set the record straight.

Answer 3

a lot of it IS true.. but.. you can also ad a HINT of false to the truth to make it more "interesting to readers" to sell more.. making it not illegal. If the print a complete lie then they can be sued for defimation. Thats IF they know it's a lie.. and they dont print a "recant".. a letter in the paper saying "sorry.. we lied.." But .. gossip is gossip and people can't live without it.. it's more interesting to know about other peoples lives because ours are just WAY to boring.

Answer 4

They do get sued. We do not hear of some of the lawsuits but you had better believe that they are happening. If the ones that buy these gossip "rags" would not buy them then maybe they will go out of business. After all they only receive so much from their advertisers the rest of the money comes from the buyers of the "scandal" sheets.

Answer 5

I guess it depends. Magazines like that DO get sued, fairly often. You hear about celebs fighting back to magazines like that all the time. I guess it depends on how serious what they are writing. Some people might just not pay attention.

Answer 6

The only way they could "legally" get away with it is if they are up front and admit that they are only reporting rumors as possibilities.
Like the current item about Keith Richards possibily being in Pirates of the Carribean 3 as Jack Sparrow's father. As I post this, no one representing Richards has been approached about the possibility, but the idea IS being considered by the producers.

Answer 7

They are lies. If you notice, The National Enquier gets sued a lot.

Answer 8

Some celebs just ignore it unless they exposed them too much then that's when they sue.

Answer 9

thats what the magazine company get paid for thats show biz