In Touch Weekly

History and profile

The magazine was launched in 2002 by Bauer Publishing; Richard Spencer was editor from its launch until 2010. American Media, Inc. acquired Bauer's US celebrity magazines in 2018. The magazine announced it will print its final issue in June 2025.

The magazine shares a publisher with its sister magazine Life & Style Weekly, a similar weekly gossip magazine. Whereas In Touch is focused more on celebrity gossip, Life & Style bills itself on giving readers lifestyle tips on how to incorporate celebrity beauty and fashion into their lives.

On September 18, 2006, after the death of Daniel Wayne Smith, son of Anna Nicole Smith, Getty Images sold the last photos taken of Daniel alive at his mother's bedside to In Touch Weekly and Entertainment Tonight for a reported $650,000.

On May 21, 2015, the magazine controversially released a police investigation of Josh Duggar from the 19 Kids and Counting reality TV show, from an investigation carried out in 2006, when Josh was 18 years of age, about events occurring in 2002, when Josh was 14 and still a minor, when he was accused of molesting his sisters and several other girls. No charges were ever filed. Although the magazine was criticized for releasing the report, the Springdale, Arkansas, city attorney and several legal experts said that since Josh was 18 at the time of the investigation and all minors' names were redacted, the release was permitted under Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act.

In Touch Weekly and its successive parent companies have faced lawsuits from people including Duggar, Richard Simmons, Blake Shelton, David Beckham, Tom Cruise and Judy Sheindlin alleging causes of action including defamation and invasion of privacy.

References

References

1. (June 30, 2012). "eCirc for Consumer Magazines". Alliance for Audited Media.
2. David Carr. (25 October 2004). "A Down-Market Publisher Dresses Up". The New York Times.
3. (2018-06-18). "Bauer Media sells most of US portfolio – 17 titles down to just four". Mediaweek.
4. Gardner, Chris. (2025-05-30). "In Touch, Life & Style, Closer and First for Women Magazines to Shutter, Lay Off Entire Staffs".
5. (May 22, 2015). "Judge orders Josh Duggar's record destroyed". Chicago Tribune.
6. (2 June 2015). "Release of Josh Duggar's Police Report Raises New Legal Questions". Fox News.
7. (May 24, 2014). "Senator: Springdale Police Chief Should Be Fired Over Child Sex-Crime Report". 5 News.
8. (May 26, 2015). "Bart Hester, Arkansas lawmaker, wants police chief fired over release of Josh Duggar report". The Washington Times.
9. (June 4, 2015). "City Of Springdale Responds To Josh Duggar Sexual Molestation Accusations". 5 News.
10. (5 June 2015). "Josh Duggar Molestation Scandal: City Defends Release of Record". NBC News.
11. Brittain, Amy. (June 5, 2015). "Here's why releasing Josh Duggar's records was probably not illegal". The Washington Post.
12. (13 October 2017). "Exclusive: Josh Duggar loses privacy lawsuit against In Touch Weekly". [[New York Post]].
13. (21 May 2020). "Tracking Richard Simmons’ Car Is Not Free Speech, Court Rules". [[Variety (magazine).
14. (13 April 2017). "Blake Shelton Settles Defamation Fight With In Touch Weekly". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
15. (14 February 2011). "Judge Tosses Beckham Libel Suit Against Magazine". [[CBS News]].
16. (21 December 2013). "Tom Cruise settles defamation lawsuit against tabloid publisher". [[CNN]].
17. (May 14, 2024). "Judge Judy files lawsuit in Naples against National Enquirer over Menendez brothers claim". [[Naples Daily News]].