Elton John and his manager John Reid at the High Court for a Libel Case against

Photo: 4 Nov 1993 Elton John and his manager John Reid at the High Court for a Libel Case against

In 1993, Elton John and his manager, John Reid, sued the Sunday Mirror for defamation due to an article published on December 27, 1992. The article, titled "Elton's Diet of Death," claimed that Elton John was following a peculiar diet involving chewing food without swallowing, a practice linked to bulimia. The newspaper stated that the singer had been observed at a Christmas party in Hollywood, where he allegedly spat out chewed food into a napkin.

https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/elton-john-wins-pounds-350-000-for-libel-punitive-damages-awarded-against-sunday-mirror-over-false-claims-about-diet-1502134.html

The Sunday Mirror later admitted the story was false and issued an apology, offering to cover Elton John's legal costs and make a donation to a charity of his choice. However, Elton John rejected the offer, as the newspaper denied the defamation and claimed it was an identity mix-up.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/11/02/Elton-John-sues-paper-over-bulimia-allegations/3810752216400

On November 4, 1993, the jury awarded Elton John £350,000 in damages, including £75,000 in compensatory damages and £275,000 in exemplary damages. Judge Sir Justice Drake instructed the jury to maintain a balanced perspective when assessing damages and avoid excessive amounts.

After the verdict, Elton John stated that he would have accepted an apology earlier if the newspaper had acknowledged that the story was fictitious.

This case highlighted the importance of protecting personal reputation against false claims and the responsibility of the media to verify the accuracy of information before publication.