X-Files Actor Sues Tabloid for Defamation

By Lauren Foley

Photo by Mark Mainz (2008 Associated Press)

American actor and sci-fi icon David Duchovny plans to sue London-based tabloid the Daily Mail for a story it ran on Sunday, October 19, according to a report from TV Guide’s official news feed. The article alleged that Duchovny, a self-proclaimed sex-addict recently estranged from wife Téa Leoni, had an affair with his 28-year-old Hungarian tennis coach Edit Pakay.

While the story claims that it was his relationship with Pakay that led to his estrangement, Duchovny denies ever having any kind of physical relationship with the instructor.

Stanton “Larry” Stein, Duchovny’s lawyer, was contacted by Daily Mail staffer Caroline Graham for comment on the article prior to publication. According to a report on The Celebrity Café.com, “Stein said he warned the paper about publishing the article, saying, ‘It is all lies and deceit.’"

“I advised her that it was false and not to run with it, and she went ahead with it anyway," Stein said.

This piece comes in the wake of Duchovny completing a rehabilitation program for his sexual addiction in early October and rumors that he cheated on his wife in the past, said another article on the Daily Mail's online edition.

In the Daily Mail story, Pakay seems to admit that she had some kind of relation with the X-Files alum outside of tennis practice.

“David and I are very close friends and we still play tennis together. He's an excellent player. He likes physically strong, fit women,” she told the UK tabloid. “I don't want to say anything that might hurt David. I am not going to deny it. I don't know what our relationship means to him.”

However, after the Duchovny camp released statements alleging that the material published in the article was false, Pakay changed her tune. She now vehemently denies that they were anything more than friendly tennis partners, according to celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton.

Duchovny and his legal team are currently preparing to file a defamation suit against the British tabloid. All Headline News is reporting that Duchovny will seek $1 million in damages.