The attorneys for Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that the Globe has
capitulated and settled a $50 million lawsuit which Arnold Schwarzenegger filed
last year against the Globe to recover damages for a malicious, false and
defamatory article which the Globe had published in August 1998. In the article,
the Globe had claimed, among other things, that Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the
midst of a "heart crisis" and was a "ticking time bomb." The article was
published more than 16 months after Arnold's successful heart surgery, at a time
when he was in excellent health.
The Globe admitted it made a mistake and apologized to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Globe agreed to publish a prominently placed retraction, correction and
apology in its next issue.
As part of the settlement, Arnold Schwarzenegger's lawyer Martin Singer of
Lavely & Singer state that the Globe required the following statement be
included in any press release:
"The case settled amicably. The former owners of Globe admitted that they
made a mistake and apologized. The settlement was for an undisclosed amount and
the former owners made a charitable contribution to the Inner-City Games
Foundation, of which Mr. Schwarzenegger is Chairman."
Arnold Schwarzenegger said that:
"I feel completely vindicated by the settlement, and am well-satisfied with
the amount that I received as part of the settlement and with the contribution
that the Globe made to the Inner-City Games Foundation.
More importantly, I am pleased that the Globe has finally acknowledged its
mistake and is willing to set the record straight that I am in excellent health.
Hopefully my vigorous prosecution of this case will preclude other tabloids from
recklessly or intentionally publishing false stories about celebrities."
Arnold Schwarzenegger has starred and continues to star in numerous rigorous
action films, including his current release END OF DAYS, and his next release ON
THE SIXTH DAY which is currently filming in Vancouver.
NOTE: Demonstrates interesting
hyper-concerns about how his health is perceived by public, obviously with
politics in view. Also shows aggressive character and tactics with his
determination to make a point to other would-be unflattering exposés.
Combined with the lack of legal action regarding other charges (sexual
assaults, perversion, adultery), implies their veracity.
On March 14, 2000 Arnold Schwarzenegger, through his attorneys, demanded that
the National Enquirer publish a retraction, correction and apology to him
concerning its false and defamatory article in it's March 14, 2000 issue
entitled "Two Faced Arnie's True Lies Exposed" (herein "Article"). Mr.
Schwarzenegger has notified the National Enquirer that the article and headline
is false and defamatory of Mr. Schwarzenegger by calling him a liar and being
two-faced when Arnold Schwarzenegger made his statement in February about Jorg
Haider that, "Someone who makes statements like Haider's has no place in
government. I have never supported him in the past and do not now." In support
of the Article, the National Enquirer published a photograph that was taken of
Mr. Schwarzenegger with Mr. Haider several years ago.
The true facts are that the photograph with Mr. Haider and Mr. Schwarzenegger
was taken at a movie premiere in Austria at which there were hundreds of people
in attendance. Over the years, Arnold has had thousands of photos taken of him
with various individuals who attend his movie premieres and other events
throughout the world. Innumerable people routinely approach him at every movie
premiere and ask him to be kind enough to have a photograph taken of him and the
individual. Because he is polite, he customarily allows his photo to be taken
with these individuals. The photo with Mr. Haider came about in this manner. At
this particular movie premiere, Mr. Haider approached Mr. Schwarzenegger to have
a photograph taken with him. The true facts are that Mr. Schwarzenegger never
invited Mr. Haider to the movie premiere, nor did Mr. Schwarzenegger have any
knowledge as to how Mr. Haider was invited to the movie premiere. When the
photograph was taken, Mr. Schwarzenegger did not even know Mr. Haider. This
photograph has been published on numerous occasions in the past and no one has
ever inferred that as a result of Mr. Schwarzenegger's appearance in the
photograph with Mr. Haider that he supports Mr. Haider or was his friend.
There was also reference in the defamatory article that Mr. Haider had come
to Arnold's home a few years ago. The true facts are that Mr. Haider, through a
contact, requested a meeting with Mr. Schwarzenegger. The purpose of the meeting
was a request by Mr. Haider of Mr. Schwarzenegger to have Mr. Haider removed
from the Simon Weisenthal Center Museum of Tolerance "watch list." As it is well
known, Arnold is a major supporter of and contributor to the Simon Weisenthal
Center Museum of Tolerance and has been honored by the Center on several
occasions. Arnold told Mr. Haider that Mr. Haider first needed to clean up his
record, and that if he were able to do so then Mr. Schwarzenegger would put Mr.
Haider in contact with the appropriate people at the Simon Weisenthal Center.
Mr. Schwarzenegger has demanded that there be an immediate retraction and
correction of the false and defamatory Article in as conspicuous a manner as the
Article appeared in the prior National Enquirer issue, and that National
Enquirer issue an apology and make an appropriate and meaningful charitable
contribution to the Simon Weisenthal Center Museum of Tolerance.
The last time the National Enquirer sister publication, the Globe, similarly
published a defamatory article, Arnold Schwarzenegger filed a multi-million
dollar lawsuit against the Globe. The lawsuit was only settled a few months ago,
whereby the Globe agreed to settle the lawsuit by publishing an apology and
retraction and paying an undisclosed sum of money.
Recently, members of both the international and domestic press have been
asking what Austria's most recognizable son, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has to say
regarding the events surrounding Austrian Freedom Party Head Joerg Haider.
Arnold was reached on the set of his next film and has released the following
statement.
"As an immigrant myself, I am offended by anyone who makes anti-immigrant
statements, and it is my opinion that someone who makes statements like Haider's
has no place in government. I have never supported him in the past and do not
now. I am hopeful that Austria will find a way through this.
As an Austrian-born, I am so saddened that, with all the progress we have
made working for an open and tolerant society, one man's statements can taint
world opinion of an entire country. I know that there are many tolerant people
in Austria. It is my hope that their voices can and will be heard."
Last Sunday, February 27, 2000 Arnold present his longtime friend, James
Cameron with the "GOLDEN EDDIE" award from the American Cinema Editors (ACE).
The ACE awards, nicknamed "Eddies", are primarily given to editors, however, the
special "Golden Eddie" is occasionally presented to a director or producer that
ACE feels has significantly contributed or shaped the art and craft of film
storytelling. Cameron joins very distinguished company by receiving the award
(only the sixteenth ever presented), including Steven Spielberg, Martin
Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Robert Altman, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola.
Fans of Schwarzenegger can also look forward to Arnold and Cameron reuniting
again in the future. Currently the duo are collaborating on TRUE LIES II, the
sequel to their widely popular 1994 action film, TRUE LIES, which also
co-starred Jamie-Lee Curtis.
Copyright © 2004 Oak Productions, Inc. Source:
Schwarzenegger.com ("Up to the minute" archives @ http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/archives/archives.asp?year=1999&sec=news&subsec=uptotheminute)
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