Elton John accepts $188,000 in libel settlement

LONDON — Elton John accepted $188,000 in libel damages from a newspaper Wednesday over allegations that he had asked guests not to approach him at a charity ball.

Associated Newspapers Ltd., which publishes The Daily Mail, paid the damages, according to John's attorney, Hanna Basha. The Sunday Times, which reprinted the Mail article, agreed on a confidential settlement earlier this year, Basha said.

The allegations surrounded John's behavior at his annual Tie and Tiara charity ball.

The Mail claimed in its June 24 article that the 59-year-old pop star had issued a "bizarre" edict for guests not to approach him.