Liz Hurley testified in court regarding serious allegations of privacy violations against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), claiming the publisher engaged in illegal activities to gather stories about her and her family. The actress, who appeared in court alongside her son Damian, expressed her deep emotional distress as she recounted moments when private investigators allegedly bugged her home and intercepted her phone calls.
In her testimony, Hurley outlined how the alleged breaches, taking place over a 20-year period, represented a “brutal invasion of privacy.” She specifically highlighted 15 articles published between 2002 and 2011, which she claims were based on illegally obtained information. Among these articles, several concerned her son, Damian, and his late father, film producer Steve Bing. Hurley believes that personal details from her medical history, particularly during her pregnancy, were also unlawfully accessed.
The former model became visibly emotional in court as she discussed the impact of the invasive reports, particularly referencing an article that detailed her hospital stay shortly after Damian’s birth. This led to her feelings of mortification, as she feared her son would one day become aware of such private information being publicized. “I feel really bad that that day is today when all this stuff is being regurgitated again,” she said through tears.
Hurley’s claims extend to accusations regarding ten additional articles, alleging they too were influenced by unlawful activities commissioned by journalists associated with ANL. At one point, she broke down while discussing a private investigator’s statement reportedly admitting to listening in on her conversations. Although the investigator later denied making such assertions, the impact of these allegations weighed heavily on Hurley, who described the disclosures as “deeply hurtful.”
She explained her reluctance to pursue legal action earlier, stating that her understanding was that previous complaints pertained only to issues of libel, rather than the broader concerns about privacy violations. While she acknowledged the suggestion that there may have been information leaks from her inner circle, she firmly maintained that her close friends would never disclose private matters to the press without her consent.
With heightened scrutiny around privacy rights for public figures, Liz Hurley’s case serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional toll that such violations can have on individuals and their families. The outcome of the trial may not only impact Hurley but also potentially influence ground rules regarding privacy and media conduct in the future.