Kate Moss documentary balanced, says Sky

LONDON - Model Kate Moss has been shown in a television documentary taking what the makers say is cocaine, an incident which has cost her valuable advertising contracts.

Sky One's Kate Moss: Fashion Victim?, broadcast Monday evening, featured video footage of Moss apparently snorting cocaine in the company of her self-confessed heroin addict boyfriend, rock star Pete Doherty.

Moss has been embroiled in scandal since the Daily Mirror last month printed grainy pictures of the alleged drug-taking.

Retailer Burberry and Swedish-based fashion house Hennes & Mauritz responded by cutting their contracts with the 31-year-old model, and France's Chanel said it would not renew her contract when it expires next month.

Moss has released a statement apologizing to friends, family and business associates for her behavior.

Sky One said the hour-long documentary, which asked whether Moss could continue her career, provided a balanced debate over the role of the media and the fashion industry.

In the program model Sophie Anderton, who has admitted a former addiction to cocaine, said Moss had been "punished enough."

"I had a lot of friends that were extremely hedonistic, extremely debauched, swapping partners etc. So I have seen it in others," Anderton said.

"Whether this is true of Kate I don't know. The drugs were the most important thing to me."

Moss was asked to participate in the program but declined, Sky said.

Moss, who has a three-year-old daughter, was discovered by a modeling agency as a 14-year-old schoolgirl, and her waifish good looks have graced the covers of countless magazines.

Although her statement made no specific reference to the Mirror report, she said she took full responsibility for her actions.

"I also accept that there are various personal issues that I need to address and have started taking the difficult, yet necessary, steps to resolve them," she said.

Her agent Sarah Doukas said Moss was "gutted, absolutely devastated," when she heard about the Mirror report.

Doukas said her client had left Britain for the time being, and that despite recent career setbacks, she was about to sign a new deal with an unnamed perfume company.

Media reports say Moss has checked in to the Meadows rehabilitation clinic in Wickenburg, Arizona.

- REUTERS