Francis Ford Coppola’s authorized group has launched a fierce assault towards Selection after an investigation printed by the journal accused him of partaking in inappropriate habits throughout the making of his upcoming sci-fi epic, “Megalopolis.”
Representatives for Coppola filed a fiery eight-page libel lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court docket on Tuesday, demanding $15 million plus punitive damages over a report printed by Selection again in July.
The article on the coronary heart of the go well with alleges the Oscar-winner inappropriately hugged and kissed extras whereas capturing a celebration scene for “Megalopolis,” which stars actors Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza and Shia LaBeouf. The article describes Coppola performing with “impunity on set.”
Coppola has publicly refuted the claims. Within the Selection article, two on-the-record statements from his group are quoted, each of which deny any unprofessional habits by Coppola throughout the making of “Megalopolis.”
Robert Okine by way of Getty Pictures
Coppola’s libel lawsuit contends that defendants Selection Media LLC and journalists Brent Lang and Tatiana Siege printed “false and defamatory statements” in regards to the filmmaker as a result of they have been “jealous and resentful,” in line with paperwork obtained by Deadline.
“In the world of motion pictures, [Coppola] is a creative genius,” the go well with reads. “Some people are jealous and resentful of genius. Those people therefore denigrate and tell knowing and reckless falsehoods about those of whom they are jealous.”
The submitting goes on to assault Selection and its reporters for “hiding behind” nameless sources within the piece. And it disputes Selection’s declare that there have been no “traditional checks and balances in place” throughout the manufacturing of “Megalopolis,” resulting from the truth that Coppola personally financed all the movie’s $120 million price range.
“Each of these accusations was false and knowingly so,” the go well with reads. “They were made to harm Coppola’s reputation and cause him severe emotional distress. That harm has been caused.”
Coppola’s court docket submitting comes two days after “Megalopolis” further Lauren Pagone, who was quoted in an August follow-up story from Selection, filed go well with towards the filmmaker, his manufacturing firm and two casting companies in a Georgia court docket.
In that lawsuit, which was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Structure, Pagone alleges Coppola kissed her cheek and touched a number of components of her physique with out her consent whereas capturing the social gathering scene.
In her account for Selection, Pagone described being “in shock” after her interplay with Coppola.
“I didn’t expect him to kiss and hug me like that,” she advised the outlet. “I was caught off guard. And I can tell you he came around a couple times.”
HuffPost didn’t hear again from Coppola’s authorized group when reached for additional remark relating to each lawsuits. Selection didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
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