Daily Mail Removes 17-Year Meg White 'Sighting' After Misidentifying Detroit Woman
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 21
Daily Mail Removes 17-Year Meg White 'Sighting' After Misidentifying Detroit Woman
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 21
Summary
The Daily Mail quietly deleted an Aug. 6 article and more than a dozen photos after falsely presenting a Detroit woman as former White Stripes drummer Meg White, according to multiple sources cited by the Guardian.
The paper had secretly followed and photographed the woman while touting the images as White's first public appearance in 17 years, even though its own account said she laughed and told the reporter he had the wrong person.
Friends of White and the woman said neither knew they were being stalked, and a music executive close to both said White is well and still living privately in Detroit.
The Mail issued no correction or editor's note despite its editorial code requiring significant inaccuracies to be corrected promptly and prominently.
Media ethicists said the episode violated basic standards on accuracy and privacy, especially because the person photographed was a private citizen rather than the celebrity the tabloid was chasing.