Victoria and David Beckham drop case over 'sham marriage'

[Elvira]

10-03-06
by NICOLE LAMPERT, Daily Mail

In the seven years they have been married, they have made every effort to tell the world about their happiness.
Even when the shock allegations of his infidelity emerged, they insisted that tales that their marriage was coming to an end were ludicrous.

But now David and Victoria Beckham have backed out of defending their marriage in court - after dropping a libel action against a newspaper which claimed their union was little more than a business arrangement.

Paid newspaper legal costs


Although the couple's spokesman tried to play down their decision as "a settlement", the libel action will have cost more than £250,000 in legal fees.

Indeed, they were so desperate to pull out of the action that they even agreed to pay the legal costs of the News Of The World.

Yesterday, the Beckhams and the newspaper issued only a terse agreed statement to reveal the end of two years of legal wrangling.

It said: "The defamation proceedings brought by David and Victoria Beckham against the News Of The World have been resolved on a confidential basis." Both sides agreed to never discuss the terms of the agreement.

The news comes as the Daily Mail can reveal that the marriage is in as much trouble as ever.

One source close to the pair said: "It's no wonder they felt they could not stand up in court later this year and talk about how happy they are - neither of them even knows if they will still be together."

The Beckhams announced they were suing the News Of The World in September 2004 after it published its story under the headline Posh And Becks On The Rocks.

The report came amid speculation about the couple's marriage following allegations by personal assistant Rebecca Loos that she had an affair with the England captain four months earlier.

The article described how the marriage was "a sham" which had brought David, 30, close to a nervous breakdown and had threatened his wife's health during her pregnancy with their third son Cruz.

It also claimed Victoria, 31, had called her husband "an Essex yob" and the only reason they were still together was because of sponsorship deals which depended on them appearing to be a happy family.

The two said they were suing because: "We do not deny that we promote ourselves as a happily married couple. We say that's because it is true."

But the newspaper said it was prepared to defend the article - with the likes of Miss Loos and the Beckhams' former nanny Abbie Gibson, who had also sold her story to the paper, as star witnesses.

And its QC Richard Spearman claimed at an early hearing that the couple were "only together for financial reasons, saying they were cynically and hypocritically trying to convince the public that they continue to enjoy a happy marriage".

Nightclub with Rebecca Loos
Problems emerged when David moved to Spain after joining Real Madrid, but Victoria - still intent on her singing career - refused to go with him. David was pictured having an intimate nightclub conversation with Miss Loos.

In April 2004, Miss Loos sold the story of her affair with David to the News Of The World - pinning the blame firmly on Victoria's absence.

The Beckhams tried to put on a brave face, but it was clear that the marriage was in difficulty.

The News Of The World's was just one of many reports about their problems.

But the Beckhams decided to sue the Sunday newspaper because it had used quotes which allegedly had come from Victoria which their lawyers advised them would be easy disprove.

Even as the libel proceedings got under way, allegations of the marriage crisis continued to be reported by Fleet Street.

Brave face
In October 2004 beautician Danielle Heath claimed an affair with David.

Then, in April 2005, nanny Miss Gibson sold her story. She revealed their poisonous rows and said Victoria had confided that she had considered separating.

Miss Gibson also backed claims made by Miss Loos that David had had a relationship with Spanish model Esther Canadas.

Sources close to the News Of The World case say that as the court date loomed the Beckhams realised what a disaster it could be, with details about their relationship spilling out in open court.

One source said: "Even if there were no problems, no celebrity couple would want their marriage raked over in open court. But the fact that there are very real problems which they have not been able to hide has meant they could never allow this to go to court."

Family friends of the Beckhams have meanwhile revealed that the marriage is in as much trouble now as it was two years ago.

One said: "They are at each others' throats the whole time and they barely speak to each other. Victoria is so unhappy that she is seriously contemplating getting out."

A spokesman for the pair said: "We don't talk about them as a family."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1773

[ourmaninBusan]

Family friends of the Beckhams have meanwhile revealed that the marriage is in as much trouble now as it was two years ago.

One said: "They are at each others' throats the whole time and they barely speak to each other. Victoria is so unhappy that she is seriously contemplating getting out."

I knew it. She's hot for me. Let the stalking commence!

[buttmunch]

I read in another paper that they settled out of court, so technically it wasn't dropped. I'll see if I can find the article. Either way, as a married lady, I can tell you that after awhile, it starts to feel like you're one step away from divorce half the time. The other half you can't believe you got so lucky.

[Elvira]

This article is from BBC news

Settlement in Beckham libel case
David and Victoria Beckham have settled their libel action with the News of the World over allegations that their marriage is in trouble.
Their lawyer announced a confidential settlement had been reached.

The case was due to go to the High Court after the World Cup in June, in which Beckham will captain England.

The couple said the paper had been wrong to say their public image of a loving marriage was fake, and that Mrs Beckham was insulting to her husband.

"The defamation proceedings brought by David and Victoria Beckham against the News of the World have been resolved on a confidential basis," the couple's spokeswoman Jo Milloy said.

The September 2004 article, headlined Posh and Becks on Rocks, was based on tape recordings of interviews given to journalists by their former nanny Abbie Gibson.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4789930.stm

[allthesun]

Sad. As much as she is plastic and skinny, one has to wonder why, she wasn't so bad a few years ago...
I wonder when you are so rich why would one keep taking deals to make more money? I hope that when they divorce she will get well. Regardless of ones unhappiness in a relationship it shouldn't allow one to cheat-multiple times.

[A*O]

This fits into my theory that they are about to be beamed up to the Scientology mothership for brainwashing (shouldn't take long). There can be no hint of scandal (eg Cruise and Travolta's hushed up gayness) so they are paying everyone to keep quiet.

[Voodoo Child]

^^I thought something similar.