Music superstar Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills has compared her 'hounding by the press' to the same treatment some people claim drove Princess Diana to her death a decade ago.
Mills, who is involved in a messy and head-line grabbing divorce from ex-Beatle McCartney, has accused the media of "pushing her to the edge".
In an emotional interview on breakfast TV station GMTV, she also accused "a certain corner" of fuelling negative coverage about her in the press. She added she had received death threats and been "close to suicide".
Mills called on the public to stop buying newspapers that trade on stories like hers. She said: "I've had worse press than a paedophile or a murderer and I've done nothing but charity for the 20 years. They've called me a whore, a gold digger, a fantasist, a liar," she added, complaining that she had endured "eighteen months of abuse [and] 4,400 abusive articles".
In a further interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Mills said of the media: "They had me on the brink of suicide, because I was contemplating that if I killed myself then my daughter will be safe, because when she's with me, maybe she's not going to be safe."
Mills appeared on GMTV with a large file of press clippings, calling for European law to make the press "just and fair".
She denied suggestions that she had used media coverage to her own advantage, saying: "I haven't used the press for anything but my charity. Mills' divorce from Sir Paul McCartney has become front page news.
"I am the one that is abused daily. I have protected Paul [McCartney] for this long and I am trying to protect him but I am being pushed to the edge. What did the paparazzi do to Diana? They chased her and they killed her," said Mills.
When asked about her ongoing divorce case with Sir Paul, Mills said she has been "offered nothing" and faced legal fees amounting to £1.5m, but said she was unable to discuss it for legal reasons.
"I'm gagged at the moment because I'm not allowed to say a word while the media are fed this spin by a certain corner," she said.
She said reports that she wanted to obtain a clause in the divorce settlement to sell her story were "rubbish".
"I can sell my story right now. I'm trying to protect Paul and our daughter. I am trying, and I'm being pushed to the edge."
A GMTV spokeswoman said its interview with Mills, which lasted for 20 minutes, was allowed to run on because "it is a news programme and things can change. If it is a good guest then we run with the story."
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