Hasselhoff awarded libel damages

Mr Hasselhoff has recently appeared in The Producers

Actor David Hasselhoff has won undisclosed libel damages from OK! magazine over claims that he was drunk and abusive at a nightclub.

The publication's UK and US editions have also agreed to print an apology for making the allegations.

The 3 July issue said Mr Hasselhoff was "off his face" at a Los Angeles nightclub after winning a custody battle for his daughters.

The ex-Baywatch star said he was "very pleased" with the outcome of the case.

False allegations

Mr Hasselhoff added that the allegations were an "outrage", as they suggested he had got drunk just hours after telling a court that he would abstain from alcohol to win back visitation rights to his children.

He continued that his daughters had enouraged him to "take a stand" against the magazine's claims.

The 54-year-old's lawyers told London's High Court that the publication made no attempt to contact him with regard to the claims before going to print.

If I choose to have a private dinner with a friend, I would like to do so without fear of being libelled by irresponsible tabloid journalism David Hasselhoff

A witness statement from Les Deux nightclub confirmed that Mr Hasselhoff drank only energy drinks and was not abusive to anyone else during the evening.

The defendants, who also claimed that the actor had "drank champagne like it was water", admitted that their allegations were entirely false.

Mr Hasselhoff, who has said publicly that he is a recovering alcoholic, had to battle to restore custody rights to his children after a video was circulated apparently showing him drunk.

A young female voice, thought to be one of his daughters, was heard on the tape scolding him for his alcohol consumption.

One of the court's stipulations during the custody wrangle was for Mr Hasselhoff to prove that he was no longer drinking, and the star was independently tested to show he had not consumed alcohol.