Why Is Francis Ford Coppola Suing Variety? Lawsuit Explained

Francis Ford Coppola has recently filed a lawsuit against Variety, sparking widespread interest and speculation. The lawsuit centers around allegations related to a recent article that Coppola claims misrepresents his conduct.

Now, many are wondering about what happened. Here are more details.

Francis Ford Coppola’s lawsuit against Variety explained

Francis Ford Coppola has launched a lawsuit against Variety over a July article that claimed he ran an “unprofessional” set during the production of Megalopolis. The article accused the acclaimed director of inappropriate conduct, including touching and attempting to kiss female extras. It also alleged that Coppola set up a system on set that prevented complaints from being reported and engaged in inappropriate physical behavior during the filming of a party scene with “topless” extras. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and seeks at least $15 million in damages. It claims that the allegations are “false,” “defamatory,” and motivated by “malice.” Coppola’s legal team argues that Variety, along with its reporters Brent Lang and Tatiana Siegel, relied on “supposedly anonymous sources.” They published “knowingly false” information or, at the very least, showed “reckless disregard” for the truth. (via Deadline)

The lawsuit arrives just two weeks before the highly anticipated release of Megalopolis, a project that Coppola has been working on for years and has self-funded. Coppola’s complaint emphasizes his reputation as a “creative genius” and suggests that jealousy may have been a motivating factor behind the accusations.

Coppola’s lawsuit coincides with a separate legal case involving Lauren Pagone, a former Megalopolis extra. She has filed a civil battery and negligent failure to prevent sexual harassment suit against the filmmaker in Georgia. Pagone, who was quoted in a follow-up article by Variety, claims that Coppola inappropriately kissed and hugged her on set. This backs up some of the allegations in Variety’s original July report. However, Coppola’s lawsuit does not address Pagone’s claims directly.

Variety spokesperson said in a statement to The Associated Press, “While we will not comment on active litigation, we stand by our reporters.”

In his statement to Deadline, Coppola expressed that he doesn’t intend to handle the lawsuit against Variety in the media. However, he wants to defend his reputation through the legal process. Regarding Pagone’s separate lawsuit, Coppola’s representatives declined to provide further comments.

A month prior to Variety’s coverage, The Guardian reported on complaints from anonymous crew members about Coppola’s behavior on set. These sources claimed that Coppola engaged in an “old school” conduct. This includes asking women to sit on his lap and trying to kiss topless extras during a nightclub scene.