Steps Star Ian H Watkins Receives Apology from E! Online After They Mistake Him

dan-b · #1 ● 11-29-2013, 11:10 AM

Steps star Ian H Watkins receives apology from E! Online after they mistake him for Lostprophets paedophile

E! Online have apologised to Steps singer Ian H Watkins after they mistakenly used a picture of the blonde singer instead of the disgraced Lostprophets rocker, when reporting on a sex case.

In a statement released on Wednesday night, the website said: "E! Online deeply regrets originally publishing an image of Ian H Watkins of the band Steps, rather than Ian Watkins of Lostprophets, and the error was corrected immediately.

"We are investigating the matter and will take appropriate action.

"Additionally, E! Online has reached out to Ian H Watkins, via his management, to apologise directly."

On Wednesday the Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins took to twitter to thank his fans for their support following the mistake.

He wrote: "Thank you to everyone who has supported me today", adding, "My management took swift action to remove my image which was posted due to shoddy journalism. No apology as yet from e online."

The story published by E! Online was also tweeted to almost six million followers from the website's official account and was active on their website for more than half an hour before they removed it.

H's agent, Stuart Piper, refused to be drawn on whether the star will sue the high profile website.

The nineties pop sensation pleaded for internet trolls to stop abusing him via Facebook on Tuesday night.

The blond-haired singer has the same name as the disgraced singer, and has been hounded with abuse as a result.

Lostprophets rocker Ian Watkins pleaded guilty to a string of sex charges on Tuesday, including two of attempting to rape a baby.

Following his confession, angry social media users took to Twitter and Facebook to vent their anger, many of them wrongly targeting the Steps singer as the depraved criminal.

"Dirty vile scum need to be shot after what you did to them kids, and to think of all the parents that trusted you!!" one Facebook user wrote on H's official page.

"I hope H is locked up for a long time for his crimes," wrote another.

Soon after, 37-year-old H took to Facebook to set the record straight.

"Just to clear out some of the abuse there has been the past few hours...," he wrote.

"This is the 'Official Ian H Watkins' website. Better known as H from Steps. H is in NO WAY related with the news about the singer from Lostprophets!

"Please don't post any comments about the news here because they will be deleted. Thank you!"

Just days earlier the pop singer quit Twitter after a ferocious storm of abuse was directed at him when the sex abuse trial started.

"Decided to have a break from twitter... Not sure when I'll be back.. Big Hugs to you all x H x" he tweeted.

We have contacted E! Online for a comment.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/enterta...atkins-2860253