Daily Mail Apologizes To George Clooney Over Questionable Article

British newspaper the Daily Mail has apologized to actor George Clooney after a brouhaha erupted due to an article they published about the star’s fiancee Amal Alamuddin.

As The Inquisitr posted earlier today, George Clooney issued an unusual and angry denial of a specific article the paper had published, indicating that the latest speculation about his relationship with Alamuddin and their families was the last straw.

Clooney said that the run of the mill rumormongering did not generally bother him, beginning:

“If they fabricate stories of Amal being pregnant, or the marriage is on the set of Downton Abbey, or that I’m running for office, or any number of idiotic stories that they sit at their computers and invent, I don’t care.”

However, the star said, spinning up a story around a speculative rift and religious differences crossed a line, and he adds:

“The irresponsibility, in this day and age, to exploit religious differences where none exist, is at the very least negligent and more appropriately dangerous. We have family members all over the world, and the idea that someone would inflame any part of that world for the sole reason of selling papers should be criminal.”

The online version of the Daily Mail has since completely removed the story that Clooney says was “completely fabricated,” and now, the paper has apologized to the actor.

In a statement, the paper denies that Clooney and his fiancee were subject to “fabricated” claims, but admits that the piece was essentially rumor-based:

“The Mail Online story was not a fabrication but supplied in good faith by a reputable and trusted freelance journalist… She based her story on conversations with a long-standing contact who has strong connections with senior members of the Lebanese community in the UK and the Druze in Beirut.”

The statement continues:

“We only became aware of Mr Clooney’s concerns this morning and have launched a full investigation… However, we accept Mr Clooney’s assurance that the story is inaccurate and we apologise to him, Miss Amal Alamuddin and her mother, Baria, for any distress caused.”

It concludes:

“We have removed the article from our website and will be contacting Mr Clooney’s representatives to discuss giving him the opportunity to set the record straight.”

George Clooney has not addressed the paper’s invitation for comment, but it does not seem very likely that the actor will be clamoring to use that particular venue to suddenly become vocal about his heretofore very quiet personal life.

[Image Via thoughtcatalog.com]