Tabloid Accused of Shadowing Wrong Woman in Botched Attempt to Unmask Reclusive Rocker Meg White

The is facing severe criticism after allegedly tracking down and secretly photographing the wrong woman in an attempt to score an exclusive update on reclusive rock icon Meg White. According to a report by The Guardian, the British tabloid published over a dozen covert snapshots of an unnamed individual, falsely claiming she was the former White Stripes drummer quietly enjoying a "secret new life." The now-deleted article, penned by writer Joe Hutchison and published on August 6, boasted that the paper had successfully located the elusive musician. The outlet framed the covert images as the very first public photographs of the beloved drummer captured in seventeen years, framing the discovery as a massive pop-culture scoop.

There was just one embarrassing problem with the big reveal: the woman featured in the photos was not Meg White. Sources close to the situation confirmed that the person covertly shadowed by paparazzi was actually a personal friend of the famous musician. When the reporter originally approached the woman on the street to confront her about her identity, she reportedly laughed off the interaction and explicitly stated that he had the wrong person. Despite her clear rejection of the claim, the newspaper reportedly decided to publish the story regardless. The outlet allegedly deduced that she was secretly the rock star because she politely replied "thank you" when the reporter praised the musical legacy of The White Stripes before walking away.

An anonymous record label executive familiar with both women spoke out regarding the uncomfortable mix-up, explaining that neither White nor her friend had any idea they were being actively stalked and filmed. The insider made a point to reassure concerned fans, confirming that the legendary drummer is doing well while continuing to maintain her quiet lifestyle far away from public scrutiny. White famously stepped back from the music industry after severe anxiety forced the duo to cancel concert dates, leading to The White Stripes officially calling it quits back in 2011. Since then, the notoriously private artist has almost entirely avoided public appearances and media attention. This recent tabloid blunder serves as a chaotic reminder of how fiercely guarded her privacy remains—and how far some outlets will go for a story.