Jessica Alba on the cover of PlayboyHugh Hefner has personally apologised to Jessica Alba after the unauthorised publication of her photo on the cover of last month’s Playboy magazine.

“What was intended as a tribute to your tremendous popularity has been misinterpreted by some as something else for which we are truly sorry since we are among your biggest fans,” Hefner wrote in a letter to Jessica, while apologising for “any distress unintentionally caused by the publication of your photo”.

As a result, Jessica is abandoning the legal action she started against them: “In light of Mr Hefner’s personal apology for Playboy’s unauthorised use of my photo on their cover, I have decided to discontinue my claims against them,” she said in a formal statement.