Matt Lucas wins damages over ‘grossly intrusive’ Daily Mail article
Comedian Matt Lucas won substantial undisclosed damages and an apology from the Daily Mail today over an article it published after his former civil partner’s suicide.
Lucas sued for damages over the “grossly intrusive” story, which appeared in March of this year, five months after Kevin McGee killed himself.
The pair tied the knot in 2008 but had their civil partnership dissolved two years later.
Lucas’ law firm Schillings said that it contained fabrications and was an unlawful intrusion into his grief and privacy, the Guardian reports.
The star had been caused “considerable upset and distress”, his lawyers said.
The newspaper printed an apology today on page 20, which said: “An article (March 1) ‘How Matt Lucas learned to laugh again’ caused great upset to Mr Lucas which we did not intend and regret.
“The article on Mr Lucas’s return to public life following the tragic death of Kevin McGee suggested he had ignored Kevin’s calls, became a virtual recluse, and hosted a birthday party to ‘move on’. We accept this was not the case and apologise to Mr Lucas.”
Lucas said in a statement: “This has been and continues to be a very difficult time for me and all those who loved Kevin.
“My deep pain and sorrow have been made even greater by the intrusive and defamatory stories made about my private life in the Daily Mail.
“I had no choice but to bring these proceedings to protect my private life and my right to grieve in peace.”
Earlier this year, the comedian accepted damages from the Daily Star over a story about his private life.
