This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Megalopolis director Francis Ford Coppola is suing Variety for $15 million over the outlet’s coverage of allegations against the director for on-set misconduct. Coppola’s upcoming Megalopolis movie stars Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina, an architect in a futuristic New York City-like location called New Rome, who intends to rebuild the city after an accident destroys it. Carrying mixed reviews despite being an idea the director’s had since 1977, the movie was also privy to allegations against Coppola for misconduct on set with young actresses.
Now, Associated Press reports that Coppola is seeking $15 million in emotional and reputational damages from Variety for a story published on July 26, alleging the director tried kissing and touching young female extras without their consent on the set of Megalopolis. The suit names reporters Bret Lang and Tatiana Siegel as defendants, claiming the contributors were accusing the director of misconduct that never happened. Part of the lawsuit reads:
[W]riters and editors, hiding behind supposedly anonymous sources, accused Coppola of manifest incompetence as a motion picture director, of unprofessional behavior on the set of his most recent production, Megalopolis, of setting up some type of scheme so that anyone on the set who had a complaint of harassment or otherwise had nowhere to lodge a complaint, and of hugging topless actresses on the set. Each of these accusations was false.
Coppola also commented Thursday about the allegations against him, calling it “false, reckless and irresponsible reporting.” Said reporting came from anonymous sources, but also included two videos allegedly backing the claims. One shows Coppola in a white suit leaning into a group of women to hug, whisper with, or kiss them on the cheek, while another sees a woman draw back from him after he leaned in. A statement was also issued to People by the director’s representatives, denying Variety’s allegations:
Nothing in my 60+ years career can equal the painstakingly difficult, yet artistically triumphant journey of bringing Megalopolis to the screen. It was a collaboration of hundreds of artists, from extras to box office stars, to whom I consistently displayed the utmost respect and my deepest gratitude.
To see our collective efforts tainted by false, reckless and irresponsible reporting is devastating. No publication, especially a legacy industry outlet, should be enabled to use surreptitious video and unnamed sources in pursuit of their own financial gain. While I have no intention of litigating this in the media, I will vigorously defend my reputation and have trust in the courts to hold them accountable.
Variety spokesperson Jeffrey Schneider told AP that, although the legal situation couldn’t be commented on, “we stand by our reporters.” The lawsuit also briefly mentions extra actor Lauren Pagone, who came forward publicly and spoke with Variety about Coppola hugging, kissing, and touching her on set without her consent. While Coppola was asked by AP for a direct comment on the lawsuit itself, his representatives denied the request.
More to come…
