London, Oct 24 A Brit journalist has apologized to the family of late Boyzone star Stephen Gately after she wrote an article in which she insisted that there was "nothing natural" about his death.

Columnist Jan Moir's provocative comment in the U.K.'s Daily Mail on October 16, a day before Gately's funeral, had caused quite an uproar.

The controversial article, in which Moir also suggested the tragedy exploded the "happy ever after myth" of gay marriages, attracted a record 25,000 complaints to the British media watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission.

Moir took to her weekly column on October 23 to issue an apology to Gately's family, friends, and civil partner Andrew Cowles for the article.

"Obviously, a great deal of offence has been taken and I regret any affront caused. This was never my intention... I am not - unlike those close to Stephen Gately - mourning for the loss of a much-loved partner, son, family member, and close friend," the Daily Express quoted her as writing.

"To them, I would like to say sorry if I have caused distress by the insensitive timing of the column, published so close to the funeral," she added. (ANI)