GQ editors are standing by a Joseph Gordon-Levitt article which speculated about the 2010 death of the actor's brother.

The Inception star took to his Tumblr. com page on Tuesday (17Jul12) to criticize writer Amy Wallace for reporting that his elder brother Dan died of "an alleged drug overdose", calling her choice of words "factually incorrect" and "irresponsible".

In the piece, Amy Wallace wrote, "The elder Gordon-Levitt died of an alleged drug overdose in 2010. 'It was an accident' is all Joe will say about that."

GQ bosses have now responded to the controversy by defending the claims made about the late fire-spinner and photographer in the August (12) cover story.

A statement from the publication reads, "The magazine stands by its reporting, the facts of which are fully supported - and have been confirmed in detail - by the Los Angeles County coroner's office."

The Los Angeles coroner's office has since confirmed to TheWrap.com that the late Dan Gordon-Levitt's cause of death was ketamine intoxication, occurring by intake of overdose.

The death was officially characterised as accidental.