Katie Holmes: Did Star Magazine Drug Addict Claims Damage Her $50 Million?

Libel can be very damaging to a person's reputation. But can we really believe that Star Magazine's claim that Katie Holmes is a drug addict damaged Holmes in the amount of $50 million?

Katie Holmes is reportedly suing Star Magazine for $50 million, based on Star's allegedly false claim that Holmes is a drug addict. [Source: TMZ Staff. Katie Holmes Sues Star Magazine, 2011-03-01T11:37:00-08:00. Downloaded from: http://www.tmz.com/2011/03/01/katie-holmes-to-sue-star-magazine-50-million-libel-defamatory-lawsuit-addicted-to-drugs-national-enquirer/]. For purposes of this article, I will assume Star Magazine's report was false and that Katie Holmes is not, in fact, a drug addict.

Telling millions of people that Katie Holmes is a drug addict undoubtedly does damage Holmes' reputation. People forget that celebrities have parents, grandparents, former high school teachers, and thousands of other acquaintances who might think less of them if they are reported to be drug addicts. No matter how weak the basis of the Star Magazine article is, some people will believe it, and that is damaging to Katie Holmes. Even an award of $50 million would not be enough to change the minds of every person who was deceived by a false (allegedly) magazine article.

But for a Hollywood actress like Katie Holmes, there is not a lot of stigma to being a drug addict (or an accused drug addict). Many top actors have bragged about their drug use; for example, Cameron Diaz recently announced on television that she believes she once bought Marijuana from Snoop Dogg. While drug abuse might not fit Holmes' image, few people would be scandalized to learn she was a substance abuser. And the media attention resulting from such accusations probably would not hurt her.

It is unlikely that Katie Holmes will lose any work over these claims. A couple of her recent projects have struggled to find audiences, but she is still among the Hollywood elite, and a claim of drug addiction will not change that. Hollywood all but glorifies drug abuse, and you would be hard pressed to find a director who refuses to work with drug addicts. The media attention resulting from the Star magazine piece (and the resulting lawsuit) could actually help Holmes by keeping her on everyone's radar.

Like it or not, Katie Holmes will likely be on everyone's radar for months to come, as her lawsuit against Star Magazine proceeds.

Sources

TMZ Staff. Katie Holmes Sues Star Magazine, 2011-03-01T11:37:00-08:00. Downloaded from: http://www.tmz.com/2011/03/01/katie-holmes-to-sue-star-magazine-50-million-libel-defamatory-lawsuit-addicted-to-drugs-national-enquirer/