LONDON: Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper on Wednesday apologized to US First Lady Melania Trump and agreed to pay her damages over an article that included allegations that she worked as an escort in the 1990s.
“The defendant is here today publicly to set the record straight, and to apologize to the claimant for any distress and embarrassment that the articles may have caused her,” Catrin Evans, the lawyer for Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and MailOnline, told the High Court in London.
Although the total amount of damages was not disclosed, the Press Association news agency said it was believed to be under $3 million (2.8 million euros).
John Kelly, Melania Trump’s lawyer, said the article in the Daily Mail — Britain’s second biggest-selling newspaper — in print and online in August last year “included false and defamatory claims.”
The allegations “questioned the nature of her work as a professional model, and republished allegations that she provided services beyond simply modelling,” Kelly said.
The article stated that there was no support for the allegations and provided denials from her spokesperson and from Paolo Zampolli, who ran the modelling agency where she worked.
But the allegations “strike at the heart of the claimant’s personal integrity and dignity,” Kelly added.
Trump’s lawyers launched a lawsuit against the Daily Mail in September in New York, asking for $150 million in damages.
The paper had already published a retraction in September, saying it “did not intend to state or suggest that these allegations are true.”
In documents filed in February, the US first lady said that because of the Daily Mail’s allegations she and her brand had missed out on “multiple millions of dollars” in licensing, marketing and endorsement opportunities that would otherwise have been available to someone spending time as “one of the most photographed women in the world.”
She said the publication had prevented her from reaping the “once-in-a-lifetime” windfall to be had as a business lady married to new US President Donald Trump.
Daily Mail pays Melania Trump damages over escort claim
Daily Mail pays Melania Trump damages over escort claim
Review: ‘Roofman’ Movie
- The film follows Jeff, a man on the run, living out of sight inside a Toys “R” Us store, and constantly improvising his survival
I went into “Roofman” with no expectations, and that turned out to be the best possible way to experience the 2025 comedy-drama based on a true story.
Gripping and unexpectedly moving, it is one of those rare character-driven stories that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Channing Tatum delivers what may well be the strongest performance of his career. Stripped of the bravado he is often known for, Tatum plays Jeffrey Manchester — a former US army veteran and struggling dad who turns to a life of crime — with a raw vulnerability that feels lived-in rather than performed.
His portrayal balances charm, desperation and weariness in a way that makes the character both flawed and sympathetic. It is the kind of performance that reminds you how effective he can be when handed a script that trusts stillness as much as spectacle.
The film follows Jeff, a man on the run, living out of sight inside a Toys “R” Us store, and constantly improvising his survival. Without giving anything away, “Roofman” unfolds as a tense cat-and-mouse story, but one that resists becoming purely a thriller.
The pacing is deliberate and assured, allowing moments of humor, warmth and connection to surface naturally amid the suspense.
What “Roofman” does exceptionally well is maintain an undercurrent of unease. Even in its lighter, more playful moments, there is a persistent sense of claustrophobia and impending doom.
The script understands that tension does not always rise from action; sometimes it is born simply from the fear of being seen. “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage’s flawless portrayal of the store’s stern and authoritarian manager sharpens that anxiety.
Kirsten Dunst brings a grounded, affecting presence to the story, offering moments of tenderness and emotional clarity that deepen its human core. Her character anchors Jeff’s world with something real to reach for.
Despite its thrills, “Roofman” is ultimately a reflective film that asks, without judgment, how people arrive at the decisions that shape their lives, and why some feel trapped into making the wrong ones.
Underrated and surprisingly heartfelt, “Roofman” is a reminder that some of the most compelling stories are about the resilience of hope even when the odds are stacked against you.
