The Daily Mail is facing accusations of stalking after mistakenly identifying a woman as Meg White, the former drummer for The White Stripes. The newspaper reportedly followed and covertly photographed the individual, publishing more than a dozen images and claiming she was living a “secret new life”.
The now-deleted article, published on August 6 and written by Joe Hutchison, presented the photos as the first new public images of White in 17 years. The report stated that when approached, the woman laughed and said he was mistaken, but the newspaper reportedly concluded she was White after she replied “thank you” when praised for The White Stripes’ music.
Multiple sources have since identified the woman as a friend of Meg White, who has not been publicly named. An anonymous music label executive close to both women told The Guardian that neither Meg nor her friend were aware they were being stalked. Karen Elson, singer-songwriter and former wife of Jack White, described the newspaper's actions as “reckless and cruel” in a deleted social media post.
The Daily Mail removed the article and photographs from its website last week but has not issued a correction or apology. NME has contacted the Daily Mail for comment.