Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell (born May 22, 1970) is a British supermodel and actress. Born in Streatham, South London, Campbell studied at the London Academy For Performing Arts. She has been a prominent fashion model on the runway and in print advertising since the late 1980s. She also posed nude for Playboy magazine and for a series of lesbian-erotic photos with Madonna in her book Sex. She is reputed to have a quick temper, with several tabloid stories involving violence against her staff as well as verbal abuse.

The Daily Mirror court case

In February 2001 pictures were published in the Daily Mirror newspaper showing Campbell leaving a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in London. In March of 2002 Campbell sued the paper citing a breach of confidentiality, as she was receiving treatment for drug addiction at the time. The Mirror claimed that the pictures were in the public interest as Campbell had, up to that point, not been known or proved to be a drug addict. The High Court ruled in Campbell's favour and the Mirror was ordered to pay £3,500 in damages (although legal costs were thought to be around £500,000.) In October of 2002, the Mirror won an Appeal Court ruling that the photographs were indeed in the public interest. Campbell was ordered to pay the costs of the Mirror's legal fees, a cost of around £350,000. However, in May of 2004, the Law Lords overturned the Appeal Court ruling by a 3 to 2 majority, which reinstated the High Court's original decision, and Campbell was reawarded £3,500 and the £350,000 legal costs. The Mirrors legal cost is thought to be over £1,000,000. The case is also thought to be a landmark in the rights of celebrities to privacy. Mirror editor Piers Morgan said at the time "This is a very good day for lying drug-abusing prima donnas who want to have their cake with the media, and the right to then shamelessly guzzle it with their Cristal champagne. Five senior judges found for the Mirror throughout the various hearings in this case, four for Naomi Campbell. Yet she wins. If ever there was a less deserving case for creating what is effectively a back door privacy law it would be Ms Campbell, but that's showbiz."

Related Topics:
February - 2001 - Daily Mirror - Narcotics Anonymous - March - 2002 - Drug addiction - High Court - October - Appeal Court - May - 2004 - Law Lords - Celebrities - Piers Morgan

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