Last week gossip website X17online.com posted an alleged confession of French supermodel Alexandra Paressant, who claims to have had a two-month affair with NBA superstar Tony Parker. Parker is married to "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria. Since the allegations, both Parker and Longoria have adamantly denied the affair. “I love my wife,” Parker said in a statement from Longoria’s spokeswoman, Liza Anderson. “She’s the best thing in my life, and I have never been happier.”

“Tony has been nothing short of the perfect husband,” said Longoria.

Today, Parker filed a $40 million lawsuit against the website, claiming defamation and invasion of privacy. I understand that what the website posted may not have been true, but so is about 90% of what is said in gossip magazines. I feel as if they may have been targeted. What makes this gossip different from any other?

The suit alleges that Parker was defamed by the publishing of the allegations because the company "had to know that the story was false, or at the very least, it had to have entertained serious doubts about the credibility of its supposed source".

X17 released a statement in their defense reading: "The journalists at X17online conducted extensive research for the reporting of this story and we felt the evidence was too strong to ignore. Alexandra Paressant’s claims were significant and newsworthy and we are continuing to uncover more details each day in our continued investigation."

What do you think of this case? Is it really defamation, or harmless gossip? Where is the line to be drawn? Do you think X17 is being unfairly targeted?