The Life of Comedienne and Actress Carol Burnett

In 1981, a California jury ruled in her favor in the libel lawsuit against The National Enquirer. The case centered on the tabloid’s 1976 story that falsely described her as being drunk and disruptive in a Washington, D.C., restaurant.

The jury awarded her damages and rejected the publication’s argument that the story was harmless entertainment reporting. The case became an important moment in discussions about tabloid journalism, showing that public figures could successfully challenge false reporting in court.