Newspapers apologize for printing false Michael Douglas interview
The Cologne-based publishing group M. DuMont Schauberg (MDS) has apologized for publishing a fake interview with Hollywood star Michael Douglas in several of its publications.
In a statement published in advance on Thursday, which was to appear in the newspapers concerned on Friday, the publication of the article is described as a "terrible mistake": The interview, which had appeared earlier in the week, had turned out to be a fake.
"The author of the alleged interview, a German Hollywood correspondent, has since admitted that it was not him but the internet service 'TMZ' that conducted the alleged interview," MDS announced. The cooperation with the journalist was then immediately terminated. The interview was published on Monday in the Berliner Kurier, the Kölner Express and the Hamburger Morgenpost.
When asked by the news agency dapd in New York on Wednesday evening, Douglas' spokesman Allen Burry said that the actor had "never" spoken to the author of the alleged interview. Douglas had only spoken to the US magazine "People" when he was diagnosed with cancer. He only gave further interviews this week. The aforementioned author was not present.
In the alleged interview, Douglas was quoted as making very personal statements about his cancer and problems with his ex-wife and their son.
"The author of the alleged interview, a German Hollywood correspondent, has since admitted that it was not him but the internet service 'TMZ' that conducted the alleged interview," MDS announced. The cooperation with the journalist was then immediately terminated. The interview was published on Monday in the Berliner Kurier, the Kölner Express and the Hamburger Morgenpost.
When asked by the news agency dapd in New York on Wednesday evening, Douglas' spokesman Allen Burry said that the actor had "never" spoken to the author of the alleged interview. Douglas had only spoken to the US magazine "People" when he was diagnosed with cancer. He only gave further interviews this week. The aforementioned author was not present.
In the alleged interview, Douglas was quoted as making very personal statements about his cancer and problems with his ex-wife and their son.
