Joey Barton pays Jeremy Vine £75,000 and apologises after 'very serious allegation'

Joey Barton has issued an apology to Jeremy Vine and will pay the broadcaster £75,000 in damages plus legal costs to settle a defamation claim regarding social media posts, the ex-footballer announced.

It comes after a judge's decision that Barton's description of Vine as a "bike nonce" on social platforms was defamatory. Barton stated: "Between 8 and 12 January 2024 I published 11 posts which accused Jeremy Vine of having a sexual interest in children, and created a hashtag which made the same allegations, which were viewed millions of times.

"I recognise that this is a very serious allegation. It is untrue. I do not believe that Mr Vine has a sexual interest in children, and I wish to set the record straight.

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"I also published posts during the same period in which I referred to Mr Vine having advocated forced vaccination during the Covid 19 pandemic, based upon a video clip of his TV programme. I accept that he did not advocate this policy and that the video clip has been edited to give a misleading impression of what he was in fact saying.

"I then taunted and abused Mr Vine for bringing a legal complaint against me. I have agreed not to make the same allegations again about Mr Vine and I apologise to him for the distress he has suffered.

"To resolve his claims against me in defamation and harassment, I have agreed to pay Mr Vine £75,000 in damages and his legal costs."

Radio and TV personality sued the former footballer for defamation and harassment over fourteen online posts in which he named Mr Vine a "big bike nonce" and a "pedo defender" on X, formerly referred to as Twitter. In the early stages of the case, Mrs