Francis Ford Coppola has filed a libel lawsuit against Variety after the publication released an article on July 26, 2024, that accused the filmmaker of unprofessional behavior on the set of his upcoming sci-fi film Megalopolis. The 85-year-old director is seeking $15 million in damages, claiming that the article falsely reported that he hugged and kissed female background actors without consent during a party scene. Coppola alleges that these accusations were made with “malice” and have harmed his reputation.
This legal action follows a separate lawsuit filed by Megalopolis extra Lauren Pagone, who sued Coppola in Georgia for civil battery, claiming she was subjected to inappropriate behavior during the film’s production. Pagone’s claims, which were highlighted in a follow-up Variety article on August 2, back up the original story, alleging that Coppola’s behavior caused her distress.
In his court filing, Coppola denied the allegations, accusing Variety of relying on anonymous sources who violated non-disclosure agreements. He argues that the publication acted with reckless disregard for the truth by using unreliable sources. Meanwhile, Coppola’s legal team has not yet commented on Pagone’s lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages.
The Megalopolis director has dismissed the accusations as baseless and harmful to his career, with plans for the film’s release on September 27, 2024.
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