The National Enquirer has been ordered to pay up in regards to the false story they published about Philip Seymour Hoffman. They ran a story claiming he was lovers with playwright David Bar Katz.
It ended up being a blessing in the end, as the money the tabloid will pay, which is an undisclosed amount, will go towards Katz’s American Playwriting Foundation.
Katz told New York Times the foundation will be able to give a $45,000 grant to go towards an unproduced play.
His lawyer, Judd Burstein, said the settlement will allow the foundation " to give out thesegrants for years to come." The award will be called the Relentless Award.
According to USA Today, the Enquirer claims they had spoken to a man who conned them into thinking he was Katz. The man told the tabloid they were involved in a sexual relationship and had done drugs together the night before Hoffman was found dead in his NYC apartment.
“The issue was never me being outraged at being accused of being gay — we’re theater guys, who cares?” said Katz. “The issue was lying about the drugs, that I would betray my friend by telling confidences.”
Burstein said of the man who claimed to be Katz, “My goal is to have him living out of a cardboard box.”
The story has since been pulled and the Enquirer has apologized to Katz in addition to the settlement.
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