Katie Holmes, apology shocker! Settling 'drug shocker' lawsuit, Star tabloid says it's sorry

Katie Holmes, who filed a $50-million lawsuit against Star magazine over a January cover story suggesting she was a drug addict, has settled for a high-profile apology from the tabloid and a "substantial donation" to her charity of choice.

"In a recent issue of Star, we published headlines about Katie Holmes that could be read to suggest that she was addicted to drugs," reads the apology inside the mag's May 9 edition. "Star apologizes to Ms. Holmes for any misperception and will be making a substantial donation to charity on Ms. Holmes' behalf for any harm that we may have caused."

The magazine teases to the apology in a headline at the top of its May 9 cover; in January, next to a tired-looking photo of the actress, Star's cover had blared "Addiction Nightmare: Katie DRUG SHOCKER! The real reason she can't leave Tom." That turned out to refer to a story inside about the "addiction" potential in Scientologists' use of E-meters. Holmes and her husband, Tom Cruise, are well known as Scientologists.

In March, when the lawsuit was filed, Holmes' lawyer called the cover a "cheap trick on the public."

At that time, Star issued a statement asserting the "physical effect of the e-meter on its users is a matter of significant public concern" and stating "we plan to vigorously defend the suit filed by Ms. Holmes."

The actress, 32, released her own statement Wednesday, saying she accepted the apology. “With this dispute out of the way, I look forward to once again focusing my attention on my family and career," she said.

The amount of American Media Inc.'s donation to the Dizzy Feet Foundation, which Holmes co-founded and which brings dance training to underprivileged kids, was not made public.

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Katie Holmes sues Star for libel over 'drug shocker' cover

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— Christie D'Zurilla

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Photo: Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise at "The Kennedys" miniseries premiere in Beverly Hills on March 28, 2011. Credit: John Sciulli / Getty Images.

Katie Holmes sues Star for libel over 'drug shocker' cover

Katie Holmes sued the publishers of Star magazine for $50 million in federal court on Tuesday, accusing the tabloid of implying on a January cover that she is a drug addict.

"Of all the fabricated stories that continue to be published about me, this instance is beyond the pale," Holmes said in a statement. Publisher American Media Inc. "knew this outrageous story was false and printed it anyway to sell magazines,"  the statement said.

The headline on the Star cover, which featured a picture of a disheveled Holmes, screamed "Addiction Nightmare: Katie DRUG SHOCKER!" and added, "The real reason she can't leave Tom."

The "addiction" alleged in the story was to Scientology's e-meter device, the use of which Star said "gives subjects a temporary feeling of euphoria, followed by a crash and a craving for more," according to Gossip Cop. Scientology followers believe the e-meter can detect mental trauma.

Holmes' lawyer called the cover a "cheap trick on the public."

Star said in a statement that it stands behind its reporting. "The physical effect of the e-meter on its users is a matter of significant public concern and we plan to vigorously defend the suit filed by Ms. Holmes," adding that it could not wait to depose the actress regarding the e-meter.

The lawsuit also states that the implication that Holmes wants to leave husband Cruise is untrue.

About this time last year, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filed a claim against the British tab News of the World over a story alleging that they had split up.

Brangelina won and donated the settlement money to charity.

RELATED:

Katie Holmes' 'The Kennedys' lands a broadcast home

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie settle lawsuit over breakup story

Paul Haggis divorces Scientology over gay marriage -- and then some

— Christie D'Zurilla

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Katie Holmes at the premiere of "The Romantics" in New York on Sept. 7.  Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press.

Paul Haggis divorces Scientology over gay marriage -- and then some

After 35 years as a Scientologist, "Crash" director Paul Haggis has left the church because of its position on gay rights.

And dang, on his way out, did he ever give them a piece of his mind.

"I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing is tolerated," Haggis said. The Church of Scientology of San Diego had, without being denounced by the larger church, backed California's Prop. 8, which banned gay marriage.

And that's some of the mild stuff.

The letter -- written in August to Tommy Davis, Scientology's director of public affairs and son of actress and Scientologist Anne Archer -- was supposed to be private, a Haggis rep told the Associated Press.

That would've been the polite thing to do, I suppose, but with Haggis ranting in the letter not only about gay rights but also regarding some alleged church practices that have been quite controversial -- well, some secrets just don't like to be kept, do they? 

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Director-writer Paul Haggis at the Artists for Peace and Justice party on Sept. 11, 2009, during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Credit: Jag Gundu / Getty Images