Francis Ford Coppola sues Variety over article about his ‘unprofessional behavior’

The for ‘s decades-long ardour undertaking “” proceed to mount because the director takes authorized motion towards a media outlet that reported on his alleged misconduct on the set of the movie.

On Wednesday, the Oscar-winning filmmaker sued Selection and its govt editors who authored the piece in Los Angeles Superior Court docket for defamation, in line with court docket information reviewed by USA TODAY Thursday.

On July 6, containing two movies supplied by a crewmember that allegedly exhibits Coppola, 85, “attempting to kiss younger feminine extras on the set of his formidable sci-fi epic.” The commerce publication reported that sources claimed the manufacturing of Coppola’s Roman Empire epic didn’t have safeguards in place to report such inappropriate habits.

Coppola has denied accusations of misconduct and requests $15 million in damages in addition to a jury trial.

“Whereas we is not going to touch upon energetic litigation, we stand by our reporters,” a spokesperson for Selection’s writer, Penske Media Company, stated in an announcement to USA TODAY Thursday.

USA TODAY has reached out to attorneys for Coppola for remark.

Francis Ford Coppola slams ‘false, reckless and irresponsible reporting’

states Coppola is a “artistic genius,” and “Some persons are jealous and resentful of genius. These individuals due to this fact denigrate and inform figuring out and reckless falsehoods about these of whom they’re jealous.”

The “false and defamatory statements” made towards Coppola in Selection’s article “have been made to hurt Coppola’s popularity and trigger him extreme emotional misery,” the lawsuit claims. “That hurt has been brought on.”

Coppola’s lawsuit took umbrage with Selection counting on nameless on-set sources his attorneys name “unreliable” as a result of they broke their signed nondisclosure settlement by sharing confidential details about the “Megalopolis” manufacturing.

“Defendants relied on these supposed sources and, by doing so, acted with reckless disregard for whether or not the sources, this time, have been telling the reality or not,” the go well with reads.

The submitting additionally denied the declare that “Megalopolis” didn’t have “checks in balances” in place for sexual harassment allegations.

“Nothing in my 60+ years profession can equal the painstakingly tough, but artistically triumphant journey of bringing Megalopolis to the display screen. It was a collaboration of a whole lot of artists, from extras to field workplace stars, to whom I persistently displayed the utmost respect and my deepest gratitude,” Coppola stated in an announcement shared with .

“To see our collective efforts tainted by false, reckless and irresponsible reporting is devastating. No publication, particularly a legacy business outlet, ought to be enabled to make use of surreptitious video and unnamed sources in pursuit of their very own monetary acquire,” his assertion continued.

“Whereas I’ve no intention of litigating this within the media, I’ll vigorously defend my popularity and have belief within the courts to carry them accountable.”

The Guardian additionally printed allegations towards Francis Ford Coppola

Selection’s reporting got here out a month after  printed an article wherein a number of nameless crew members described Coppola as having “old-fashioned” habits round ladies on the set.

Sources instructed The Guardian that Coppola “allegedly pulled ladies to take a seat on his lap, for instance” and tried to kiss a few of the topless feminine extras whereas filming a bacchanalian nightclub scene. One supply stated the director claimed he was “attempting to get them within the temper.”

“Megalopolis” govt co-producer Darren Demetre defended Coppola and instructed The Guardian, “There have been two days after we shot a celebratory Studio 54-esque membership scene the place Francis walked across the set to ascertain the spirit of the scene by giving form hugs and kisses on the cheek to the forged and background gamers.”

Demetre added: “It was his manner to assist encourage and set up the membership ambiance, which was so essential to the movie. I used to be by no means conscious of any complaints of harassment or sick habits through the course of the undertaking.”

The movie additionally stirred controversy when its 2½-minute trailer final month after social media customers identified movie critiques included within the clip contained pretend quotes.

“Megalopolis,” a Roman Empire-inspired story, took Coppola 4 many years to carry to the display screen. It stars Laurence Fishburne, Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel Jason Schwartzman and Kathryn Hunter.

“Megalopolis” releases Sept. 23 in IMAX and Sept. 27 in different theaters.

In the event you or somebody you understand has skilled sexual violence, RAINN’s Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline affords free, confidential, 24/7 help to survivors and their family members in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and  and en Español .

Contributing: Naledi Ushe

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: