The ex-boyfriend of Belle de Jour, the blogger whose life as a call girl inspired a TV series, has spoken of his relief after winning a High Court apology over false allegations she made about him.
Former RAF officer Owen Morris said Brooke Magnanti, the former scientist behind the pen-name, had ‘destroyed’ his reputation by accusing him in the Sunday Times of threatening to expose her identity for money.
She also claimed his behavior towards her had become so threatening that she had once taken out a restraining order on him.
Mr Morris, 38, said: ‘I am glad that the truth behind the Belle de Jour media machine is finally starting to come out.
‘The grim reality is diametrically opposed to the marketed myth.’
Belle de Jour shot to fame after she posted a series of blogs about her sexual adventures, in which Mr Morris – who she dated for seven years – was referred to as The Boy.
She worked from 2003 to late 2004 as a prostitute through an escort agency.
Tomorrow, the Sunday Times is due to make a public apology at the High Court, confirming the false allegations it carried were baseless.
Dr Brooke Magnanti’s identity was revealed in November 2009. She was previously only known by the pen name Belle de Jour.
Recently she waded into the debate on online porn. David Cameron announced that every householder connected to the internet will have their access to online porn blocked unless they ask to receive it.
But writing in The Telegraph, she said: ‘One big assumption seems to be that only blokes will opt-in to porn, because the widespread myth is that only men watch it. But women seek out hardcore content too.’
Leave a Comment