The Daily Mail has been accused of stalking a woman they mistakenly identified as the former White Stipes drummer Meg White.
As reported by The Guardian, the newspaper is said to have followed and covertly photographed the individual and published more than a dozen images of her, claiming that she was the drummer, who was now living a “secret new life”.
The article, written by Joe Hutchison and published on August 6, said it had located the “reclusive female music superstar” and presented the photos as the first new public images of White in 17 years.
The now-deleted report said that when Hutchison approached the woman and questioned if she was White, she laughed and told him he was mistaken. However, the newspaper reportedly concluded that she was the drummer after she replied “thank you” when the reporter praised The White Stripes’ music.
The woman in question has now been identified by multiple sources as a friend of White, although she has not been publicly named.
An anonymous music label executive who is close to both women told The Guardian: “Neither Meg nor the friend that was pictured had any idea they were being stalked. I can also assure you that Meg is well and is living the private life she chooses and deserves in Detroit.”
Karen Elson, the singer-songwriter and former wife of Jack White, also commented on the Daily Mail‘s article, in a since-deleted social media post.
“What’s so disheartening is the great lengths they took to try and hunt her down and how reckless and cruel it was to post images of another woman all over the internet,” she wrote, adding that the woman in the photos was somebody who “we also love tremendously”.
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.
Meg has largely remained outside the public eye since The White Stripes disbanded in 2011, and she was absent when the duo were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last year.
Jack White said during his acceptance speech: “I spoke with Meg White the other day, and she said that she’s very sorry she couldn’t make it here tonight, but she wanted me to tell you that she’s very grateful. And to all of the folks who supported her in all the years, it really means a lot to her.”
He later revealed that Meg had helped him edit the speech, checking it for “punctuation and corrections”.
White has faced adversity in the press in the past, including in 2023 when journalist Lachlan Markay apologised for calling her a “terrible” drummer. He said his comments had been “petty, obnoxious, just plain wrong”. Elson defended White at the time, as did The Roots drummer Questlove.
