A Canadian singer/songwriter who recently slagged off Avril Lavigne's songwriting skills has retracted her criticisms. Chantal Kreviazuk, who shares management with Lavigne, and who has collaborated with her, discussed her collaborator's songwriting skills, or lack of, in a recent edition of a magazine called Performing Songwriter. Last week Lavigne hit back via her blog, saying: "Chantal's comments are damaging to my reputation and a clear defamation of my character and I am considering taking legal action".
But Kreviazuk has now backtracked completely, issuing a statement this week that reads: "I would like to apologize for any misconceptions concerning Avril Lavigne, which may have resulted from statements I made in my interview with Performing Songwriter Magazine. My statements and any inference from my statements, which call into question Avril's ethics or ability as a respected and acclaimed songwriter should be disregarded and are retracted. Avril is an accomplished songwriter and it has been my privilege to work with her".
Avril's songwriting abilities have been in the news this last week, of course, because The Rubinoos songwriter Tommy Dunbar has accused her of stealing chunks of a song he wrote back in the seventies for her recent hit 'Girlfriend', allegations Lavigne strongly denies.