(Credit: Gather, screenshot)

Gather published a lengthy retraction Feb. 10 of fake claims that singer Katy Perry uses cocaine.

The fake claims were published in a Feb. 7 gather article “Katy Perry Continues to Party Hard Post-Divorce” and Jan. 28 Gather article “Katy Perry Left Behind by Russell Brand over Cocaine?”  The articles “present her in a negative light” and had “false information,” according to the retraction.  The retraction reads in part:

“Specifically, these articles alleged that Ms. Perry has used cocaine and overindulged in alcohol and “partying,” and that these were the causes for her recent divorce from Russell Brand. After hearing from Perry’s representatives, and examining the articles and statements in question, we have determined that there is no evidence that validates any of these assertions. We regret any harm or embarrassment that this may have caused Katy Perry, and we respectfully apologize for the error.”

Read the retraction in full here.