Zhang Ziyi, the star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, has settled her lawsuit with a US-based Chinese magazine for their claims that she was a prostitute; the magazine has since apologized for their claims.

According to The Ottowa Citizen, the initial report stated that Zhang was a prostitute who was paid to have sex with Chinese government officials. Zhang brought the lawsuit in a Los Angeles court against China Free Press, Inc. -- a North Carolina nonprofit corporation devoted to promoting free speech and democracy in China -- doing business as Boxun News, and Weican Null Meng, a U.S. citizen and founder of China Free Press. Zhang claimed damage to her reputation and business interests. Zhang complained that Boxun News had repeatedly published untrue reports that she was a prostitute who earned more than $100 million by having sexual relations with Chinese government officials and others, court documents say. Those articles were then republished by other media outlets around the world.

Zhang also disputed Boxun's allegation that she was working on behalf of the Chinese government to damage the website's reputation.

Boxun's reports caused a stir in China because one of the officials they alleged she had slept with was Bo Xilai, a former prominent politician imprisoned for corruption and abuse of power, whose downfall was well underway at the time.

The retraction by the website, according to the Australian outlet SMH, reads as follows: "In a series of articles published beginning in May 2012, Boxun News reported negative and untrue information about Chinese movie star Zhang Ziyi, including that she slept with wealthy and powerful men for presents and money. These false reports about Zhang Ziyi should never have been published. As a result, Boxun News now renders its unreserved apology to Zhang Ziyi, has removed the entire series of articles about Zhang Ziyi from the Boxun News website, and issues this formal retraction. Boxun News regrets the publication of these articles and any distress Zhang Ziyi may have suffered as a result of the articles."