Adjudication No. 485 (March 1991) [1991] APC 20

ADJUDICATION No. 485 (March 1991)

Dr Antony Kidman and Mrs Janelle Kidman, the parents of Australian actor Nicole Kidman, complain of a Woman's Day article entitled "Nicole - were those bruises Cruise's?" Nicole was the subject of the article which purports to reveal behind the scenes secrets of her new film, Billy Bathgate.

Dr and Mrs Kidman believe that Press Council principles were breached because the story was not presented fairly and did not respect the privacy and sensibilities of their daughter. They also believe Woman's Day had an obligation to ensure that the statements were true or, if they wore rumour or unconfirmed reports, identified as such. They also held that the magazine should make amends for publishing harmfully inaccurate information by printing promptly and with appropriate prominence a retraction and an apology.

The article was based on hearsay and quotes from film extras, who were usually unidentified. The published story was a composite of direct and indirect quotes pieced together with some background data about the film. It was a "Hollywood gossip" type of story which many readers would regard with some scepticism. The complainants said they would not have expected to find such a story in a publication as credible as Woman's Day.

In its defence the magazine claims Nicole is a public figure and that the story came from a reputable source and was published in good faith. The magazine does not however allege that the story was based on truth. It does claim that it has given Dr Kidman and his wife the opportunity of an interview "to set the record straight", but that they declined the opportunity. Dr Kidman denies this, saying his wife was offered publication of a letter.

The magazine also claims it has found the Kidman family and Nicole's publicist most unhelpful in the past when asked to verify stories.

Despite its alleged past difficulties the magazine should have endeavoured to "set the record straight" before it published the story and not afterwards. The Press Council acknowledges that Nicole Kidman is a public figure but even so Woman's Day had an obligation to ensure that the statements were true or, if they were rumour or unconfirmed reports, to identify them as such.

The complaint is upheld.