Songwriter retracts comments against Lavigne

By Larry LeBlanc

TORONTO (Billboard) - Chantal Kreviazuk, the fellow Canadian singer-songwriter who dismissed collaborator Avril Lavigne's writing skills in an interview in the June issue of Performing Songwriter magazine, has retracted her comments.

Kreviazuk's comments have been in the media of late in the wake of a copyright infringement suit filed against Lavigne by the 1970s band the Rubinoos. That group claims Lavigne's hit "Girlfriend" infringes on their earlier song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend."

"I would like to apologize for any misconceptions concerning Avril Lavigne, which may have resulted from statements I made in my interview with Performing Songwriter Magazine," said Kreviazuk in a statement released Tuesday (July 10). "It was not my intention to call Avril's songwriting ability or ethics into question.

"My statements and any inference from my statements, which call into question Avril's ethics or ability as a respected and acclaimed songwriter, should be disregarded and are retracted. Avril is an accomplished songwriter and it has been my privilege to work with her."

In a July 6 post on her Web site, Lavigne had hit back, "Chantal's comments are damaging to my reputation and a clear defamation of my character and I am considering taking legal action."

Reuters/Billboard