Celebrity gossip can be wildly entertaining—until it crosses the line into pure fiction, prompting legal action. Take Tom Cruise, for example. When a tabloid claimed he abandoned his daughter Suri, Cruise hit back with a $50 million defamation lawsuit, eventually settling out of court.
Oprah Winfrey also found herself battling fake news when a viral rumor falsely claimed she was arrested for sex trafficking. Though she didn’t pursue legal action, Oprah publicly condemned the rumor, highlighting the dangers of misinformation.
Keanu Reeves was another target when a bizarre rumor surfaced that he was secretly married to someone he’d never met. Reeves’s legal team swiftly forced retractions, making it clear that such falsehoods wouldn’t be tolerated.
Another notable case involved Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, who sued a British tabloid for claiming their marriage was on the rocks. The couple won the lawsuit, and the publication issued a public apology and paid damages.
Johnny Depp also famously took legal action after a U.K. newspaper labeled him a “wife-beater” during his tumultuous divorce from Amber Heard. Depp’s libel case against the publisher became a high-profile trial, showing the lengths to which celebrities will go to clear their names.
These cases serve as a reminder that while celebrity gossip might seem harmless, spreading falsehoods can lead to serious legal consequences. Celebrities are increasingly using the courts to defend their reputations, sending a strong message that the truth still matters in the world of entertainment.
