The renowned director Francis Ford Coppola has filed a lawsuit against Variety and two of the publication’s executive editors for libel. This legal action stems from a story published by Variety in July, which alleged that Coppola had behaved inappropriately and unprofessionally on the set of his new film “Megalopolis.”
In the court documents filed in the Superior Court for California in Los Angeles, Coppola’s attorneys stated that the director believes the alleged libel was made with knowledge of falsity or with reckless disregard of the truth. Coppola expressed deep dismay over the false and irresponsible reporting, asserting that the collaborative efforts of hundreds of artists involved in the film had been tainted by these allegations.
The specific incident in question involved anonymous sources cited by Variety, claiming that Coppola had made inappropriate comments and attempted to kiss young female extras on the set of “Megalopolis.” Coppola’s legal team asserted that they provided evidence to Variety refuting these allegations and requested a retraction, which was refused by the publication.
In response to the lawsuit, Coppola issued a statement expressing his intent to vigorously defend his reputation and to trust the courts to hold Variety accountable for their actions. The director is seeking general and specific damages, as well as punitive damages in an amount to punish and deter such conduct in the future. Coppola is also requesting coverage of his legal costs and a jury trial. Moreover, individuals who have worked with Coppola have issued statements disputing the allegations, and one of the extras seen in the videos has refuted the characterization of the events.
