Inside the Case – Leo’s Lawsuit

Inside the Case – Leo’s Lawsuit

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Inside the Case_Leon and RihannaLeonardo DiCaprio is not the father of Rihanna’s baby. He is a mega star who can sell gossip rags when he’s on the cover – even if the story is completely wrong.

So Leo is suing a French gossip magazine over a story claiming that not only was he the father of Rihanna’s baby but wanted nothing to do with the baby. This is more than just a little oops for the magazine named, Oops!. (By the way, is Rihanna even pregnant?)

The owner of Oops! has reportedly admitted that he didn’t know whether the story was true or false when he ran it, and that he fully expects to lose the lawsuit. He went on to say his staff read numerous stories saying Leo and Rihanna were together but also that the magazine didn’t know if Rihanna was pregnant adding, ”We thought she might be. We were no sure, of course.”

2015-06-08 17_18_48-Inside the Case - Leonardo DiCaprio's Lawsuit - YouTubeObviously, there’s a bigger financial upside to using scandalous headlines to sell issues, even if the stories are true and you get sued over them. It’s just a cost of doing business.

Clearly, this isn’t about the money. Under French law, the maximum recovery is about $20,000 plus legal fees. This is about using the court of law to manage Leo’s reputation in the court of public opinion.

According to the court papers, in addition to the erroneous claim that DiCaprio is having a baby with Rihanna, the magazine is being sued under France’s strict right to privacy laws. The lawsuit points out that Oops! does not have the right to print information about DiCaprio’s personal life nor was it allowed to publish two paparazzi photos of him on the street. DiCaprio’s side is also asking Oops! to print a retraction on an upcoming cover, and if it doesn’t, his legal team has asked the court to impose a fine of approximately $11,100.

Either way Oops! Will have Leo on the cover and the chance to sell more magazines. And that’s the high price of stardom.

Darren Kavinoky
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