Cheryl Cole receives front page apology from mag over MC Harvey 'affair'

London, Feb. 20 (ANI): Cheryl Cole has been issued a front page apology by Now magazine after they published a false story about the singer being in a relationship with MC Harvey.

The publication admitted that the 29-year-old pop diva did not exchange emails with the rapper but said he had been sending messages to a "calculated" hoaxer posing as Cole.

The Girls Aloud member has also been awarded damages and legal costs.

The front cover of the latest issue reads, "Sorry Cheryl, there was no romance with Harvey - we got it wrong."

Cheryl famously took to Twitter to deny the story of a romance with the former So Solid Crew member after the end of her marriage to footballer Ashley Cole.

"Was this 'relationship' happening in your head @harveyofficial?" the BBC quoted her as writing when the story was first published last year.

An apology inside the magazine said that the February 2012 article that claimed she and the musician had a secret relationship, followed hundreds of emails over a six-month period between what was believed to be MC Harvey, Cole and her mother.

The apology further read that they were satisfied that the emails from Cheryl and her mother were not genuine and appeared to be the work of a calculated and meticulous hoaxer masquerading as Cheryl who went to great lengths to deceive Harvey.

The publication added that it was clear that there was no relationship between Cheryl and Michael and they were wrong not to accept Cheryl's denial.

The publication has also apologised for any "embarrassment" and "upset" they may have caused.

Following the publication of the apology, Cole posted a photo of the magazine cover on her official website, branding Now "liars" and wrote on Twitter, "#nowmagazine #expensivelies #muggedoff #whohaseggontheirface?" (ANI)