Harry Potter author JK Rowling has complained to the Press Complaints Commission over holiday pictures of her and her family published in OK! magazine. The pictures, showing Rowling, her partner, Neil Murray, and her eight-year-old daughter Jessica on holiday on a private beach in Mauritius, appeared in the 8 August issue.
Rowling complained that the pictures invaded her privacy and that the photo of her daughter should not have been taken without her consent.
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A number of Scottish newspapers carried the pictures of Rowling and her partner without her daughter.
OK! editor Nic McCarthy said she was surprised by the complaint and had taken legal advice before going to press. "We did check it out with our lawyers before we published and they were completely happy," she added.
"It’s a terrible shame because we are all massive Harry Potter fans in the office and we even did a four page special on JK Rowling as a follow-up." McCarthy said she was prepared to write a letter of apology to Rowling but she wanted to wait to see what the complaint said first.
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The PCC will try to resolve the complaint, otherwise it will adjudicate in September.
OK! ran into trouble with the PCC last October over pictures of Prince William. The pictures, condemned by the Palace, were taken without the Prince’s permission during his 10-week expedition to South America.
By Ruth Addicott
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