Double fault: David Duchovny sues for libel over cheating story
October 23, 2008 by Jillian Cohan
David Duchovny swears that while he may be a philandering artist at work, he’s not one at home. The Californication star this week sued Britain’s Daily Mail for the profile it ran of his tennis pro, Edit Pakay, in which she said the two of them had a very close relationship. When asked if they’d had a full-fledged affair, Pakay said she wouldn’t deny it.
Duchovny recently finished rehab for sex addiction. Soon after, he and wife of 11 years Tea Leoni announced a formal separation. They’d apparently split up months before.
DD’s lawyer is asking for at least $1 million in damages and says Pakay signed a sworn statement that she and the actor were close friends and on-court partners — nothing more. The suit says the British tabloid acted hastily and published the story even though there was doubt as to its truthfulness. E! has the full legal document here.
If the story was indeed false, the Mail may have problems. But if the info is true, and they can prove that in spite of Pakay’s statement, DD’s in a world of hurt. Maybe Californication creator Tom Kapinos should follow his star around after work — he’d find plenty of inspiration for Hank Moody’s future shenanigans.
