• by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, July 14, 2016

Hold onto your hats because there is some shocking news this week: the National Enquirer may not be an entirely reputable and dependable source of news. I know, I know – I feel like my world is crumbling around me, too.

This is the revelation contained in a libel lawsuit brought against National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc. by TV advice star Dr. Phil McGraw. He is demanding $250 million in compensation for what he characterize as false reports in the tabloid about his personal lives. Specifically, the Enquirer published a story claiming that McGraw and his wife are getting divorced, which the doctor and his good lady wife say is not true.

The couple’s lawyer, L. Lin Wood, noted that the couple has been married for almost four decades and has no intention of getting divorced.

In an official statement, Wood explained that the decision to sue for libel was prompted by repeated incidents involving the Enquirer and other AMI publications: “Dr. and Mrs. McGraw, after enduring years of the National Enquirer, Star and other American Media Inc. publications knowingly and recklessly printing outrageous lies about them, their marriage, their integrity and their character, have finally concluded that enough is enough and too much is too much.

Dr. and Mrs. McGraw believe that this pattern of knowingly and repeatedly publishing lies for profit will not stop unless these publications are held accountable in a court of law for their corporate practice of falsely smearing reputations.”

AMI in turn fired back that it stands by its reports and intends to fight the lawsuit in court.

It’s worth noting that while divorce is as common as botox in Hollywood, in this case, the rumors could be materially damaging to Dr. Phil, whose career is built on his reputation as an expert on relationships, emotions and mental health.

The libel lawsuit comes not long after a Florida jury slammed Gawker with $140 million in damages after finding the gossip Web site violated the privacy of the professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, real name Terry Gene Bollea, by publishing part of a video showing him having sex with the wife of his friend, radio personality “Bubba the Love Sponge.”

Gawker is appealing the decision. The publisher is currently up for sale with an initial bid from Ziff Davis Media.