Music

The Sunday Telegraph Has Formally Apologised To Daniel Johns Over Last Year’s Brothel Article

"We retract the story and we wish to extend a genuine and public apology to Mr Johns and his family for the error and the harm caused."

by Rebecca Shaw  3 May 2020
Daniel Johns

Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you always know where to find us.

The Sunday Telegraph today published a formal apology to Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns after he sued them over an article claiming he frequently attended a Sydney brothel. 

In August last year, The Sunday Telegraph printed a front-page story by reporter Amy Harris about Johns, titled “King of the Kastle.” The story alleged that the singer was a frequent visitor to famous Sydney brothel The Kastle, spending up to 18 hours a day there in the previous two weeks. The front page included photos of Johns, claiming that he was “swaggering” out of the “notorious bondage dungeon” after a bender. A month later, Johns announced he was beginning defamation proceedings.

In a statement on his Facebook page at the time, he disputed that he had ever been there. Johns also said the paper had fabricated other details in the story, including his alleged behaviour, saying “Additionally, it was stated that staff and patrons were “fed up” with me, and I was full of venom and anger.” He added, “This false reporting has been very hurtful, humiliating, and damaging to me and my family.” In today’s The Telegraph apology, which also appeared on Twitter, it seems that he won his fight against the paper.

The Telegraph admits that the story was wrong, further explaining in the lengthy apology that “Mr Johns was in the area because he had been visiting a friend who lived in the vicinity of The Kastle.” The statement also goes on to say that they retract the story and “wish to extend a genuine and public apology to Mr Johns and his family for the error and the harm caused.” Some people are pointing out that it took 9 months for Johns to receive a walk back of the story and an apology, and that they hope it is spread wide and far to counter the initial front-page story.

And while there are no further details at the moment, there are some speculating if Johns also received a defamation payout.