A London nightclub bouncer on Tuesday accepted “substantial” libel damages from a tabloid newspaper which printed remarks by Oasis star Noel Gallagher (news) about an alleged assault at the club.
London’s High Court was told that Shabazz Nelson had sued the mass-selling Sun tabloid for damages after it ran an interview with the musician about a fracas at celebrity hang-out, The Met Bar.
“In the course of the article Mr. Gallagher alleged that he and his girlfriend had been assaulted by door attendants who were referred to as monkeys,” said Nelson’s lawyer, Korieh Duodu.
The article was accompanied by a photograph of Nelson who had been working at the club on the night in question.
“(Nelson) was understandably concerned that readers of the article would have understood that he was the subject of Mr. Gallagher’s claims. The truth is that Mr. Nelson did not assault Mr. Gallagher or his girlfriend and conducted himself in a perfectly proper and responsible manner,” said Duodu.
Noel Gallagher and his brother Liam, Oasis’ singer, have gained a reputation as the bad boys of British rock since the group shot to fame in the 1990s with hits such as “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”
But the pair appeared to have quieted down in recent years, divorcing their wives and mending their famously tempestuous relationship.