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First Time the Paper Has Posted an Online Apology on Its Home Page
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Photo credit: Rick Diamond
The Daily Mail has apologized to Journey guitarist Neal Schon and his fiancée Michaele Salahi for a false story that it recently published. In a first for the Daily Mail, an apology has been posted on the homepage of the British newspaper’s Web site and reads as follows:
Neal Schon and Michaele Salahi
PUBLISHED:23:31 EST, 4 April 2013| UPDATED:23:43 EST, 4 April 2013
On 22 February we published an article about Journey guitarist Neal Schon and his fiancée Michaele Salahi, entitled ‘Exclusive: Journey guitarist Neal Schon left ex-wife and daughters “so broke they can’t buy food” .. but he gave Real Housewives of DC fiancée $1 MILLION ring’. It claimed falsely that Mr Schon was a deadbeat dad and repeated allegations that he had neglected his ex-wife and two young children, leaving them in such a precarious financial position that they have no money for food or bills and that their home would have to be sold. It also reported claims that Mr Schon was a “drunk and abusive man” who had become “increasingly spiteful and vindictive” using his money to bully his ex-wife and that his fiancée Michaele Salahi had turned him against his former wife. We accept that these allegations are untrue and apologise to Mr Schon, Ms Salahi and the family for any distress caused. We have agreed to pay Mr Schon and Michaele damages and legal costs.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/article-2304316/Neal-Schon-Michaele-Salahi.html#ixzz2PawBFwVM
The Daily Mail based its February 22, 2013 story on false and vicious statements against Neal Schon and Michaele Salahi that had been posted online by Judy Kozan, Schon’s former mother-in-law, on her personal blog.
Kozan made the posting just hours after Schon was victorious in a court case filed in January 2013 by Amber Schon, Kozan’s daughter, asking for an additional $2,700 in monthly support payments. A Minnesota judge ruled that Schon had met all of his child support obligations and noted that he had paid his ex-wife more than $1.3 million since their divorce in 2007. The judge even recommended (Amber Schon) should “get a job.”
As a result of the blog – and the subsequent media coverage it generated – Neal Schon filed a lawsuit against Judy Kozan in Minnesota federal court on March 18th, in an attempt to end the constant harassment to which he has been subjected, and for the damage that has been caused.
With respect to the Daily Mail’s apology and payment of damages, Neal and Michaele appreciate that these corrective actions have been taken, and will continue to ensure that journalistic integrity is maintained in regards to reports on their professional and personal lives.