Francis Ford Coppola hits back at claims he inappropriately kissed young women in blistering defense
Director Francis Ford Coppola has slammed allegations he inappropriately kissed young women on the set of Megalopolis, which is due to hit theaters later this month.
Coppola, in May earlier this year, was accused of attempting to 'kiss topless and scantily clad female extras' during production.
The 85-year-old was seen allegedly 'trying to kiss young female extras' in two brief videos published days later by Variety.
The Godfather filmmaker, who previously said claims were 'totally untrue', is now suing the publication and two of its trade publication's executives for libel, adding that their claims were 'made with knowledge of falsity or with reckless disregard of the truth'.
A spokesman for Variety responded saying: 'While we will not comment on active litigation, we stand by our reporters.'
Coppola (pictured), in May earlier this year, was accused of attempting to 'kiss topless and scantily clad female extras' during production of Megalopolis, which is due to hit theater later this month.
Pictured: Variety's video seemingly showing Coppola embracing an extra
The complaint said that prior to filing the lawsuit, 'Coppola provided evidence to Variety that the [above] allegations were false and Coppola requested that the allegations be retracted. Variety refused and doubled down.'
According to the documents, Variety then repeated the same allegations and allegedly emphasized malice toward the filmmaker.
Lauren Pagone, an extra on the set who laid claims against Coppola, was a subject of one of Variety's articles one week after the release of the videos.
Variety reported that Pagone was 'dancing in the middle of a live take of a nightclub sequence when Coppola approached her and pulled her toward him. He then hugged and kissed her.'
The outlet said the Pagone has worked on several studio projects in recent years but said the interaction with Coppola was 'unusual'.
Lauren Pagone, an extra on the set who laid claims against Coppola, said the director 'hugged and kissed her'
Pagone called the alleged behavior 'unusual'
She decided to come forward, saying, 'I don't appreciate anybody speaking for me,' when another extra, Rayna Menz, made a statement on Instagram, reported Variety.
The statement by Menz read: 'A video involving me has been released with a misleading headline. None of the claims about @francisfordcoppola are true; it was an honor to work with such a legend.'
'This video was taken on a CLOSED set that prohibited self phones [sic] specifically for the safety of all actors. I am disgusted by these allegations & hope everybody will see the truth for what it is.'
Pagone claimed Coppola pulled her toward him and hugged and kissed her, saying: 'I was in shock. I didn’t expect him to kiss and hug me like that. I was caught off-guard. And I can tell you he came around a couple times.'
Several actresses were cleared for topless nudity in the scene, according to a call sheet reviewed by Variety, they also reported that Pagone did not appear nude and 'was outfitted in a top with a plunging neckline'.
Coppola said the claims against him were 'made with knowledge of falsity or with reckless disregard of the truth'
An insider told Variety that during filming the scene, Coppola announced into a microphone, 'Sorry, if I come up to you and kiss you. Just know, it's solely for my pleasure.'
Coppola's complaint further reveals the crew had to sign non-disclosure agreements and the 'call sheet reminded all cast and crew that all private photography was prohibited onset'.
It further said that the defiance of these agreements made any source Variety used 'untrustworthy', and the publication 'acted recklessly, with no regard for truth or falsity, in relying on such sources'.
Coppola had told Rolling Stone in late August that the claims against him were 'totally untrue' and were attempts to 'damage the picture'.
He explained that sources in the original report from The Guardian were attempting to 'damage the picture' because he, self-admittedly, doesn't 'follow rules' typically obeyed in Hollywood.
His complaint described that those who told 'knowing and reckless falsehoods' were 'about those of whom they are jealous' and that they were 'resentful of genius'.
Pictured: Coppola poses with the cast of Megalopolis
A source said that because the $120 million project was funded by Coppola. there was no HR department to 'keep things in check'.
While intimacy coordinators, Samantha McDonald and Ashley Anderson, worked on the film, they were not on set during the scene in question.
One of the film producers, Darren Demetre, explained to The Guardian that the filmmaker's actions were in the spirit of the scene as an attempt to 'inspire and establish the club atmosphere'.
Demetre added that as an executive producer and one of the first assistant directors, he was 'never aware of any complaints of harassment or ill behavior' on the project.
Coppola is seeking general and specific damages of $15 million, unspecified punitive damages, coverage of legal costs and 'any further relief the court may deem appropriate', as well as a jury trial, according to The Wrap.
