Celebrity Justice
Reese Says 'I'm Not Pregnant' -- Sues Star Mag

TMZ has obtained a lawsuit filed by Reese Witherspoon claiming Star Magazine invaded her privacy by publishing a "fictional" story that the actress was pregnant.

In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the Academy Award-winning actress claims the magazine published a false story that she was pregnant "in a callous effort to boost the tabloid's sagging sales."

"Contrary to the fabricated Cover Story," the lawsuit says, "the true facts are that [Reese] is not pregnant, does not have a 'baby bump' and has not otherwise gained weight such that she has had to resort to wearing 'Empire-waist dresses,' 'baggy clothing,' or an 'old-fashioned 1920's bathing suit.'"

Reese also alleges in the suit that "this fabricated tall tale was brazenly published as a prominent and conspicuous cover story for the purpose of garnering the maximum attention to the tabloid..."



The lawsuit claims the story was a violation of Reese's privacy and portrays her in a false light. It seeks unspecified damages.

Mike Kahane, General Counsel for American Media, told TMZ, "It is a frivolous lawsuit. It has no legal merit and we intend to vigorously defend it and have every confidence that we will prevail."

We asked Kahane if Star believes Witherspoon is pregnant. He said, "The article asks the question as to whether or not she is pregnant based on her physical appearance and clothing that she was wearing and we believe we have every right to ask that question."

Witherspoon's publicist issued a statement, claiming the tabloid lied by saying "...she has been withholding or concealing this information from producers of upcoming films." The statement says Witherspoon's lawyers notified Star before the article was published, warning that the article was "...absolutely false and that it would be damaging to Witherspoon professionally as well as very distressing personally."

Click here to read the documents

Click here for photos of Reese

Tags: Reese Witherspoon, ReeseWitherspoon, Star Magazine, StarMagazine

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Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 8) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. I think she needs to sue those jerks...I bekeive a line has to be drawn sometime.
do those people at that rag realize that her family gets hurt by the lies they print? NO
I say God Bless ya Reece and good luck!!

Posted at 10:38PM on Jun 21st 2006 by CINDY

17. Its about time us women stood up for what is right. Its no one's business if she is pregnant or not. These tabloids need to get their information right before having us worry about our careers and what directors are going to think. Sue and get more and more for the little women who don't have the money to sue. Maybe then they will stop and believe that we are the superior sex. Good for you Reese. I hope you get enough to put them out of business.

Posted at 11:34PM on Jun 21st 2006 by Jane

18. If the Star was just "asking a question", why didn't the cover say Baby #3???? with a question mark instead of an exclamation point?

Posted at 11:54PM on Jun 21st 2006 by Michele

19. the magazine reads "she has a bump and looks pregnant" they didn't say exactly that she is pregnant so i don't see any reason for her to sue unless she wants to be in NEWS. which is rather not surprising at all. anyway if that is the case then all the hollywood actresses should sue the mag since they all are at least once mentioned that they r preganant from JLO to J ennifer Aniston. Funny huh? yeah i find it funny too . hope she doesn't win the suit. anyway she is so ugly ..short, thin lips and there is nothing special about her so i figured that she needs to win the suit nowwwwww. GO SHORTY.

Posted at 12:24AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by sonam

20. I luv Reese Witherspoon. She's phenomonon. I dont think it's right that magazines claim that she's pregnant just so they can get their stuff 2 sell. People are always shopping at grocery stores, and when theyre huge lines, people usually look at the magazines that are always there on the shelves right next 2 the register line. And i no i dont buy all magazines, but i do look at what' going on in Hollywood. And when u look at something relly shocking on a cover, u go home n then u share it with ur friends,and thats only one person sharing it. Then ur friends will go on and tell evry1 they no, and think about evry single person that will look at the that magazine. Then the next thing u find out is that Reese W. is starring in a new movie and the first thing u think is "Wasn't she just pregnant?" So it causes a lot of mis-understandings. Also i no i wudnt want stupid rumors and made-up stories totally claiming 2 be true about me passed around in a magazine, so ROCK ON REESE WITHERSPOON, AND SUE!SUE!SUE!!!

Posted at 12:24AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by Monica182

21. What Reese needs to do is find a more suitable husband. Ryan Phillipe is a load.

Posted at 12:37AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by Squeegis

22. I'm so tired of the media trying to stir things up. They try to keep us confused, in fear, wanton, loathing and angry. I'm glad she's standing up for herself and against them. I'ts about time. I only hope others will follow.

Posted at 12:46AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by Camilla

23. reese is my favorite and i dont think she is wrong. I think it is right for her to sue .I hate star magazine they lie about every body reese is nice and great she just tryes to be a great person and mother and wife. star needs to leave her alone.

Posted at 12:55AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by christina

24. I agree with the posts that think it's a ridiculous and frivolous suit. Yes, think how you would feel in her place, with tabloids, and fans who buy the tabloids as well as fuel your career. Yes, magazines do at times go too far but so do the stars with their sheer outrage. Get over it and learn to laugh at the fact that you're enough of a somebody that a magazine would care to use your face to boost sales. There are a lot of struggling actors that would kill to be in her place. It's not an invasion of privacy, it's an occupational hazard.

Posted at 12:57AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by Crystal Baller

25. DONT MESS WITH THE GOOD CELEBRITIES ANYMORE (MESS WITH PEOPLE LIKE PARIS HILTON, WHO DOESNT QUITE CARE ABOUT HERSELF OR ANYBODY ELSE)!! I'm all for them. Just because they are rich and famous, does not mean they have put up with any bad stuff. We should all be thanking them for making us happy with their music, or laughing from one of their good movies, or whatever. They should not have to pay a price or punishment just because they are celebrities. I am quite sick of the media... not the celebrities. You go, Reese. And I hope you win big.

Posted at 1:02AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by carmen

26. I think she should do something about it b/c for one i thought when i looked at the mag. on the stand that she was prego. So hey if she can get them to stop making all this bull than go for it. I would love to have them leave her alone b/c she seems so sweet and down to earth like all of us out here.

Posted at 1:11AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by cynthia

27. I really don't see what the big deal is. How many people in this world believe the tabloids anyway? How many times have I seen in the tabloids that Demi Moore was pregnant with Ashton's baby and it was not true. With a pregnancy issue,
time usually tells all. I think if it was something that was a little more damaging
to the actor then I am all for suing, but in this situation I probably would not have sued anyone. When you are a star, that should be something that you should expect in the media.

What happens in the next couple of months she ends up being pregnant, what then? A person cannot predict those kind of things. Who knows. It's entertainment to me.

Posted at 1:49AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by Julie Lender

28. What right does STAR magazine have to imply, question or insinuate that Reese Witherspoon is pregnant. These trash magazines do nothing but sensationalize, demean, dehumanize, and invade the privacy of celebrities. They print this trash all under the guise of curiosity???? Being a celebrity is only one small aspect of who she is, aside from it, she is a mother, a wife, a daughter, and one of the very few shining examples of what it is to be a role model. She is entitled to her privacy, just as much as anyone else. This question of whether she is pregnant or not is no one else's business! And it is ridiculous to even make that assumption supposedly based on the fact that she wore empire waist dresses, loose fitting shirts, or even that she appears to have a "belly bump". Her face on the cover will automatically increase sales. STAR stated they just posed the question, since they seem intent on reavealing the most personal and private aspects of her life, why not pose the question "IS IT JUST GAS, CAUSING THAT BUMP?" that's pretty damn private too. It is sad and pathetic that these celebrities must defend themselves at every turn. I couldn't imagine living each day under such intense scrutiny, having their safety and the safety of their families attacked on a daily basis by the "blood thirsty" papparazzi. So I say "thank you God" for blessing Reese Witherspoon with the insight, the courage and the self respect to stand up for her right to privacy. May she prevail a 1,000 times over.

Posted at 2:19AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by Rhonda

29. Reese is a great actress and should absolutely sue this rag for publishing false information. They [the magazine] should be responsible for damages caused if it can be proved that their lies prevented Reese from receiving certain movie offers due to the possibility of a pregnancy.

Posted at 2:28AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by Tamra

30. Good for Reese......as someone on here said, she's not a media whore like some of the celebs that seem to only go places and do things where they know they will be photographed (can you say Paris?). While I agree they get paid big bucks to do what they do, I can't imagine what it would be like to be followed EVERYWHERE!

Posted at 2:30AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by Lulu

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