Grey's Anatomy

Last week, BuddyTV reported that Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane was battling skin cancer.  His story became front page news for OK magazine's February 18th issue.  Dane was front and center with the words, "My Fight Against Cancer" plastered across the cover.  In the article, the actor said he was treated for skin cancer after noticing something wrong with his lips.  The treatment was reportedly very painful and left his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, worried about him.  The story ended with Dane's warning to readers to always use sunscreen and protect your skin.  McSteamy received lots of support from fans but there was just one slight problem.  According to him, the story is full of inaccuracies and exaggeration.

Once OK magazine ran the article, every major entertainment news outlet from MSNBC to E! to USA Today ran the story that Dane had beaten cancer.  This week, the actor refuted the story, saying he was "mortified" when he saw the article and that his medical condition was greatly exaggerated.  Dane did, in fact, have a skin condition that he received treatment for.  As originally reported, he had some malignant cells on his upper lip that had to be frozen off with liquid nitrogen.   However, what he went through "certainly does not compare with those actually suffering from the disease," his rep said.

The actor's representative went on to say: "Eric Dane does not have cancer.  He spoke with OK [magazine] to clear up some inaccuracies they were planning to run."  Dane is now reported to be considering taking legal action against the magazine.  A friend of his promised that Dane would never exaggerate his own story for media attention.  "Never in a million years would he have expected they would exploit his story," said the friend.

It is ironic that US Weekly was the one to call rival magazine OK out on their exaggerated story.  Both are considered celebrity tabloids, relying on inside sources for their stories rather than from the celebrities themselves.  However, "this isn't the first time OK! has been wrong," US Weekly quipped.   Does this incident affect your opinion of either magazine?


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: United Press International, New York Magazine
(Image courtesy of Getty Images)