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Brooke Magnanti, author of Belle de Jour, sued by ex-boyfriend Brooke Magnanti, author of Belle de Jour, sued by ex-boyfriend
(35 minutes later)
The ex-boyfriend of renowned blogger and author Brooke Magnanti – better known as anonymous call girl Belle de Jour – has launched legal proceedings against her. The ex-boyfriend of blogger and author Brooke Magnanti – better known as anonymous call girl Belle de Jour – has launched legal proceedings against her.
The revelation comes as the Sunday Times prepares to make a public apology in the High Court tomorrow for its incorrect allegations about the former RAF officer, Owen Morris. The newspaper had wrongly claimed he sought to expose Magnanti's identity for money and that she had taken a restraining order out against him. The revelation comes as the Sunday Times prepares to make a public apology in the high court on Monday for its incorrect allegations about Owen Morris, a former RAF officer. The newspaper had wrongly claimed he sought to expose Magnanti's identity for money and that she had taken a restraining order out against him.
"After years of near continuous and exhausting work to fight the libellous press allegations about me, I am obviously very grateful to be vindicated with tomorrow's apology," said Morris, 38. "But as a result of further damaging breaches of my privacy, I am currently involved in other proceedings here in Scotland. I remain determined to clear the names of my friends and family, whose private lives were also twisted and used without prior knowledge and consent.""After years of near continuous and exhausting work to fight the libellous press allegations about me, I am obviously very grateful to be vindicated with tomorrow's apology," said Morris, 38. "But as a result of further damaging breaches of my privacy, I am currently involved in other proceedings here in Scotland. I remain determined to clear the names of my friends and family, whose private lives were also twisted and used without prior knowledge and consent."
The newspaper had published a short apology to Morris in February 2012 but he has fought a legal battle for a more full public apology to be read out in court.The newspaper had published a short apology to Morris in February 2012 but he has fought a legal battle for a more full public apology to be read out in court.
Magnanti said: "I can understand that he wants to have his say about how he feels about the court proceedings. But he is straying very, very close to libelling me, and I really don't want to get into that."Magnanti said: "I can understand that he wants to have his say about how he feels about the court proceedings. But he is straying very, very close to libelling me, and I really don't want to get into that."
Magnanti tweeted, referring to the account in the Mail of the High Court apology: "It might interest some to know the Herald had to make an apology to me in Feb for printing the same thing the Mail is printing now." Referring to an account in the Mail of the high court apology, Magnanti tweeted: "It might interest some to know the Herald had to make an apology to me in Feb for printing the same thing the Mail is printing now."
Later she told the Guardian the tweet was to make clear the distinction – which she said the Mail was blurring – between her own stance and what the Sunday Times had wrongly reported. "The newspaper is apologising on its own behalf. Nobody is apologising on my behalf. I didn't want other papers to fall into the same mistake."Later she told the Guardian the tweet was to make clear the distinction – which she said the Mail was blurring – between her own stance and what the Sunday Times had wrongly reported. "The newspaper is apologising on its own behalf. Nobody is apologising on my behalf. I didn't want other papers to fall into the same mistake."
It is understood that after the two parties repeatedly failed to reach a settlement and the breach of privacy case will now be heard in court in Scotland. It is understood that after the two parties repeatedly failed to reach a settlement the breach of privacy case will now be heard in court in Scotland.
Belle de Jour first found fame in 2003 as a popular, anonymous blog that documented her encounters as a prostitute in London, as well as her relationship with Morris – known in her writing as "The Boy". The diary blog won the Guardian's Best Written British blog award in 2003 and was later published as a book, The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl, which became a top-ten bestseller and was turned into a hit TV series starring Billie Piper. Belle de Jour first found fame in 2003 as a popular, anonymous blog that documented her encounters as a prostitute in London, as well as her relationship with Morris – known in her writing as "The Boy". The diary blog won the Guardian's best-written British blog award in 2003 and was later published as a book, The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl, which became a top 10 bestseller and was turned into a hit TV series starring Billie Piper.
But it was only in November 2009 that the identity of Brooke Magnanti – then a scientist at Bristol University – was made public, when Magnanti outed herself to the Sunday Times. Subsequent articles in the newspaper, since withdrawn, stated that Morris had threatened to reveal her identity for financial gain and that she had taken a restraining order out against him. Tomorrow's apology admits that these allegations were untrue and accepts the negative impact that they had on Morris's personal and professional life. He believes that they led to his departure from the RAF in 2011. But it was only in November 2009 that the identity of Brooke Magnanti – then a scientist at Bristol University – was made public, when Magnanti outed herself to the Sunday Times. Subsequent articles in the newspaper, since withdrawn, stated that Morris had threatened to reveal her identity for financial gain and that she had taken a restraining order out against him. Monday's apology admits that these allegations were untrue and accepts the negative impact that they had on Morris's personal and professional life. He believes that they led to his departure from the RAF in 2011.
"After years of relentless libel targeted at my now destroyed personal professional life, I am glad that the truth behind the Belle de Jour media machine is finally starting to come out," Morris said. "The grim reality is diametrically opposed to the marketed myth.""After years of relentless libel targeted at my now destroyed personal professional life, I am glad that the truth behind the Belle de Jour media machine is finally starting to come out," Morris said. "The grim reality is diametrically opposed to the marketed myth."
The newspaper has already paid substantial compensation to Morris, as well as his legal costs. The Week has also previously apologised and paid damages to Morris for printing similar assertions and claiming that he had made threats of violence against Ms Magnanti. The newspaper has paid substantial compensation to Morris, as well as his legal costs. The Week has also previously apologised and paid damages to Morris for printing similar assertions and claiming that he had made threats of violence against Magnanti.
Morris refused to comment further until the current legal proceedings have been concluded. Morris refused to comment further until the legal proceedings had been concluded.