Reese Witherspoon sues Star Magazine for pregnancy lies

Actress Reese Witherspoon is fighting back against tabloid reports that she is expecting her third child. Saying that Star Magazine’s recent cover story proclaiming that she and Julia Roberts were both "pregnant with #3!" damaged her reputation by insinuating that she had lied to producers about whether or not she was pregnant, Reese filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles today.

Many magazines and gossip blogs have posed the pregnancy question in past weeks, citing baggy clothing and a tunic bathing suit cover up as signs of a possible pregnancy, although Reese has also been seen in tight fitting shirts as well as a bikini. Sick of the rumors, Reese has decided to fight back, and is therefore pursing legal action against Star for its publication of a false story.

Source: Reuters

Thanks to CBB readers Shaine, Jessica, Sarah and Brittany.

Comments

I love Reese Witherspoon and I really don’t blame her for doing this but if she were to file a lawsuit do it for the reason of them taking pictures of her children??

- NicoleMarie aka Cole on June 21st, 2006

in this case, it’s kind of extreme. saying you’re pregnant is not the worst lie in the world!

- MuffThumb on June 21st, 2006

I agree with the above comments. Besides, this action wont stop the rumors.

It’s unfortunate that many female celebrities have to deal with the constant pregnancy speculation, especially for the ones that may be having fertility issues, but I don’t think it’s only celebs that have to deal with this type of thing.

My best friend is having trouble conceiving and she is constantly hounded by family & co-workers asking her when she is going to have a baby. She obviously doesn’t want to tell everyone that she’s having difficulties.

Anyway, I love Reese to death, but I can’t say I really feel that she in particular is being picked on. I think all women are subject to certain expectations once we are in a committed relationship and of a child bearing age. It doesn’t make it right, but it’s hardly sue worthy, IMO.

- gargoylegurl on June 21st, 2006

I notice that more and more celebrities sue magazines for printing lies about them. Eventually these rag-mags will have to stop printing false stories, or go out of business. I used to enjoy Us Weekly, but after one-too-many miss-reported stories, I cancelled the subscription. If I remember correctly, cover stories said Angelina was due May (or June?) 2nd, with a BOY. I’m sure CBB readers can also think of other cover stories like this one.

- Christy on June 21st, 2006

Us Weekly(and many other publications, come to think of it) SWORE Suri Cruise, was a boy!!

- MuffThumb on June 22nd, 2006

Christy you raise some valid points, but I doubt these rag-mags will ever stop with the false stories. As long as it sells magazines, it will be worth it for them, even with the risk of getting sued.

It’s been going on for years, stars suing for false stories. I can remember it even back in the 80′s.

I agree with you that US is going down hill. I used to be an avid reader of theirs, but I think they are getting to be too much like Star and The Enquirer for my taste.

- gargoylegurl on June 22nd, 2006

Way to go Reese ! She should pursue action ! I do not doubt the fact that it was damaging.

I know this is a site for babies and moms.But what you have to realize is that she is an actress.And considering what happened to her last time, she is just protecting her career.

For those of you who do not know, she was passed over for a lot of roles due to her pregnancy with Deacon.A lot of good roles.

I remember her saying that she almost lost her role in Vanity Fair but Mira Nair wanted to work with her and just decided to include her pregnancy into the role and use a lot of strategic shots.And filming was sped up, so she was working quite hard.

And as far as those mags are concerned.Down with the mags, up with the blogs and sites like CBB !! It is far more environmentally friendly and far more entertaining..Heehe..

- Failissë on June 22nd, 2006

I saw that issue at Safeway tonight! I almost bought it. Hahahaha. Good for her for suing though. I would hate for it to all over magazines that I was pregnant after putting on a few pounds. Every few months almost everyone is pregnant because they show a little belly flab. People seem to forget that celebrities have periods and eat gassy food too, or *gasp* just plain gain a little weight between movies!

- Amber Smith on June 22nd, 2006

I would like to say that I am very disappointed in Reese. If you are going sur over something why not make it worth while. Like for example the consitant stories about her bad marriage.

- missa83au on June 22nd, 2006

Good on her!

- amelie on June 22nd, 2006

i think she is just trying to protect her career. If producers think you aren’t being truthful with them, they won’t want to work with you inthe future so I can understand. Way to go Reese!! She fought back with the paparazzi and now the tabloids! You rock Reese!

- tink1217 on June 22nd, 2006

Reese is doing the right thing. She’s not dumb, she’s not trying to stop them from publishing false stories, because who could? The divorce rumours do bother her, but she obviously knows that it won’t affect the marriage in any way, but movie producers sees REESE PREGNANT headlines constantly and might get the impression that she’s the most fertile woman on earth. She’s the highest paid actress in Hollywood right now, do you think they’d put down $30 million and would just say “Aw, it’s alright.” if she got pregnant and wouldn’t be able to perform?

Imagine what Britney’s producers feel.

- stephanie on June 22nd, 2006

i think looking at reese in pictures she is this sweet and kind mother, wife, and person and i am glad she is taking action against them. the only magazine i have grown to trust is people magazine

- angels on June 22nd, 2006

Star Magazine did not just print that she was pregnant with baby #3. The rag clearly stated she was pregnant and hiding the fact from producers. At that point, the lie threatened her livelihood, and her career and future income was at stake. Most likely, she was approached by production company execs, producers, directors or those with whom she had existing or pending contracts, after hearing/reading the rumors. It’s a well-documented fact that many women have lost lucrative jobs and roles because of pregnancies and were let go or passed over, with “higher-ups” citing some flimsy excuse as the reason instead of stating it was because of a pregnancy. If I stood to lose millions in income for myself and my family (as well as my credibility as a businesswoman) because of false allegations, you had better believe I would sue, too! It may not stop all of the rumors, but she will, at least, have fought for a career she worked hard to achieve. I hope she wins!

- GrietjeV on June 22nd, 2006

man if this was JLO she’d be filthy rich!!

- joy on June 22nd, 2006

I didn’t know that she had lost roles in the past due to pregnancy.

GrietjeV – you raise some points I hadn’t thought of.

I can actually understand how she would want to sue them given this info.

- gargoylegurl on June 22nd, 2006

gargoylegurl, yes, she was passed over for several roles because she was pregnant with Deacon. The lovely director of Vanity Fair, Mira Nair, wanted Reese so badly for the role of Becky Sharp that she wrote the pregnancy into the storyline and used some clever camera angles to help disguise her growing “bump” except for the scenes where she could believably be “showing” and still have it fit into the overall context of the storyline. Reese worked on a schedule that Mira, literally, sped up because she was working against the clock with Reese’s pregnancy blooming, so Reese worked very long, hard hours to get production completed before Deacon made his debut. That’s one of the reasons (among many others, including the “Bollywood” film industry nuance) that I love Mira Nair as a director – because she didn’t “can” Reese because of a pregnancy. She knew who she wanted and was willing to go the extra mile to work with the person she wanted, pregnant or not! Unfortunately, many industry executives are not so “forgiving” when a pregnancy threatens what they have envisioned for a character, role or film. Reese has a LOT of money to lose if industry execs, producers and directors lose faith in her integrity. And, it’s crap like these rags publish that can take stories from the realm of titillating rumors to career sabotage.

- GrietjeV on June 23rd, 2006

Grietjev you are my new CBB hero ! Well said

- Failissë on June 23rd, 2006