September 13th 2024.
In a shocking turn of events, acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola has filed a lawsuit against Variety, one of the most well-known entertainment trade publications. This comes after they published a story in July alleging that Coppola ran an unprofessional set while filming his long-awaited passion project, "Megalopolis." The article claimed that he touched and tried to kiss female extras, causing a stir in the industry.
In the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Coppola seeks at least USD 15 million in damages. It accuses Variety of publishing false and libelous information about the 85-year-old director, known for his masterpieces such as "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now." The suit also refers to Coppola as a "creative genius" and suggests that the accusations made by the publication are driven by jealousy.
According to the lawsuit, Variety's reporters Brent Lang and Tatiana Siegel are also named as defendants. It states that the publication either knowingly published false information or showed reckless disregard for the truth, which goes against the standard for libel set by the US Supreme Court. In response, a spokesperson for Variety, Jeffrey Schneider, told The Associated Press that they stand by their reporters and will not comment on active litigation.
Coppola, on the other hand, released a statement expressing his devastation at the false and irresponsible reporting. He stated that the making of "Megalopolis" was a collaboration of hundreds of artists, and he always showed them the utmost respect and gratitude. The article in question used anonymous sources and videos from the set, which allegedly showed Coppola acting inappropriately with young female extras during the filming of a nightclub scene in Atlanta in 2023.
The video footage, which has since been removed, showed Coppola hugging, kissing, and whispering to the women on set. However, it should be noted that all of the women had their tops on, and the only mention of "topless" extras came from an original report in The Guardian. In a subsequent story, one of the extras, Lauren Pagone, came forward and agreed to be identified, stating that Coppola's actions left her "in shock." She also filed a lawsuit against the director in Georgia, claiming that she was subjected to civil assault and battery.
Coppola's representative stated that they have no immediate comment on the lawsuit filed by Pagone. However, in a previous interview with AP, the director denied the allegations, stating that he was respectful of women and that his mother had instilled this value in him. The lawsuit also takes issue with an assertion made in the Variety article that Coppola accidentally ruined a shot by getting in the way. The suit argues that the director was well aware of the camera angles and was meant to appear in the scene.
"Megalopolis" is a highly-anticipated film set in a futuristic New York and stars Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel. Coppola, known for his attention to detail and perfectionism, has poured his heart and soul into this project and even sold off parts of his wine empire to finance it. With the film's release just two weeks away, this lawsuit adds another layer of drama to the already highly-anticipated premiere.
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