Chaz Bono threatens to sue over death prediction

Chaz Bono is a perfectly healthy, functioning transgender person – and that’s why the reports at the National Enquirer are so distributing for the former Dancing With The Stars contestant. The gossip magazine will feature Bono in their upcoming issue where they claim he will die within four years of purported health issues as a result of his sexual reassignment, E! Online reports. Bono has threatened to sue the tabloid if the death prediction is not removed.

“This is absolutely outrageous, false, fabricated, and highly defamatory,” said Bono’s legal team. “The salacious and inflammatory headline and article were crafted for the malicious purpose of discriminating against our client’s gender and sexual orientation.”

The article summarizes Bono’s early death by means of “obesity, testosterone supplements, and high suicide rates” which Bono’s legal team have said is completely untrue, “outrageous,” and “offensive.”

Upon the tabloid’s appointment of a physician to confirm the possible death prediction, Bono’s legal team added: “He is not a physician and has no specialty in transgender health issues.”

But the National Enquirer persists: “We have invited Mr. Bono and/or his medical experts to respond to the opinions of our medical experts in the next issue of the National Enquirer.  The published opinions in the current edition are mostly focused on Mr. Bono’s serious weight issues, which if not addressed, could substantially shorten his life,” American Media Inc., said in a statement to E! News.  American Media Inc. is the parent company of the National Enquirer.

Bono’s legal team has demanded removal of the “smear campaign” and have said its contents are purely “character assassination.”

The National Enquirer added: “The testosterone treatments that Mr. Bono has taken are drugs that medical experts agree contain inherent risks for heart disease and liver dysfunction.  We only wish the best for Mr. Bono and hope that he embarks upon a health and diet program that includes proper nutrition and exercise for his own sake.”