Peace FM Online, a member of the Despite Media Group, has rendered an apology to award-winning news anchor Natalie Fort, of TV3’s News 360, following a defamation suit filed in September 2019.
Natalie Fort filed the suit for defamation of character against seven news portals for publishing a news item under the heading ‘Natalie Fort pregnant for 4 married men’.
In the publication, the portals alleged that Ms Fort was dating four married men including a high-ranking politician, and was pregnant in circumstances in which she could not tell who impregnated her.
The news story – sourced from www.ghanacelebrities.com – further alleged that the family of Natalie Fort was seeking financial favours from one of the married men.
In the defamation suit filed at the Accra High Court against the seven news portals – GHANA CELEBRITIES, YEN GHANA, GHANAWEB, GH PAGE, GHANA SLAYERS, NETBUZZ AFRICA and PEACE FM ONLINE – Natalie Fort, represented by astute lawyer Kweku Y. Paintsil of Paintsil, Paintsil & Co., asked the court to restrain the respondents from further publishing the defamatory words.
In the writ of summons dated September 4, 2019, Ms. Fort sought damages, including special, aggravated and exemplary damages for libel, an instruction restraining the portals from further publishing the defamatory words, an order for the removal or deletion of the defamatory content, and any other relief as the Justice of the case may seem fit.
Peace FM Online on Wednesday, August 12 published an apology on its website and Graphic News as well.
“The Management of Peacefmonline do hereby unconditionally retract the republication made against Ms. Natalie Fort for failing to verify the authenticity of the said claims. As a result, the story has since been pulled down. We further solemnly and unreservedly apologise for any harm, damage or loss suffered in consequence thereof to the person of Ms. Natalie Fort, including any disaffection made towards her.”
The remaining news portals were also duly served.
The multiple award-winning News Anchor of TV3’s News 360 has since resumed work, following her one-year leave, as promised.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana