Note reveals Deng had crush on Blair: paper

Wendi Deng.

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Wendi Deng had a "crush" on Tony Blair according to a note, it was reported yesterday.

The Mail on Sunday reported that "a sensational note written by Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Wendi Deng" had been found and that it revealed she had a "crush' on the former British Prime Minister, who is godfather to one of Murdoch's children with his ex-wife.

The newspaper said that the note was written before Murdoch filed for divorce when he discovered Deng had spent weekends with Blair at Murdoch's homes. It also said Blair, 60, and Deng, 44, had met on a superyacht owned by music billionaire David Geffen without Murdoch's knowledge.

The newspaper quoted "a well-placed source" who said the document was a note by Deng to herself in which she expressed her "warm feelings" for Blair.

The Mail last week reported that a "terminal" rift had formed between Murdoch and Blair over Blair's "multiple encounters" with Deng. It claimed Blair was forced to stay away from the world's biggest media conference in the United States after Murdoch objected to his presence.

The "multiple encounters" were said to include "three overnight stays at two of Murdoch's homes behind his back".

The source in London said the note suggested Deng "had warm feelings" for Blair, comparable to a "crush".

Blair and his office refused to comment, while unofficial sources "categorically" denied rumours of an affair with Deng.

The Mail on Sunday said it had "no evidence of an affair" and that neither side had disputed claims that a rift had resulted over Blair and Deng staying at Murdoch's two homes in California.

The newspaper reported that Blair had been given top billing at July's Sun Valley conference, which attracted media and political moguls such as former US President Bill Clinton and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg.

However, he was told by the organisers at the last minute not to turn up when fellow guest Murdoch objected.

That came less than a month after Murdoch filed for divorce from Chinese-born Deng. The divorce was finalised late last month.