Francis Ford Coppola hits back at claims he inappropriately kissed young women in blistering defense

Director Francis Ford Coppola has hit out at allegations he inappropriately kissed young women on the set of Megalopolis, due in theaters later this month.

Coppola was accused in May of this year of attempting to kiss “topless and scantily clad female extras” during production.

The 85-year-old was filmed in two short videos published by Variety a few days later “attempting to kiss young female extras.”

The Godfather filmmaker, who previously said the claims were “totally untrue,” is now suing the magazine and two executives at the trade publication for defamation, adding that their claims were made “with knowledge of the untruth or with reckless disregard for the truth.”

Variety did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.

Pictured: Video from Variety showing Coppola apparently embracing an extra

The complaint alleged that before filing the lawsuit, Coppola provided Variety with evidence that the [above] allegations were false and Coppola requested that the charges be dropped. Variety refused and doubled down.’

According to the documents, Variety then repeated the same allegations, emphasizing malice toward the filmmaker.

Lauren Pagone, an extra on the set who made accusations against Coppola, was the subject of one of the articles in Variety, a week after the videos were released.

Variety reported that Pagone “was dancing in the middle of a live taping of a nightclub scene when Coppola approached her and pulled her toward him. He then hugged and kissed her.”

According to the news agency, Pagone has worked on several studio projects in recent years, but the interaction with Coppola was “unusual.”

Lauren Pagone, an extra on the set who filed allegations 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 anyone speaking for me,” when another extra, Rayna Menz, made a statement on Instagram, Variety reported.

Menz’s statement read: “A video was released featuring me 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 shot on a CLOSED set where it was forbidden to make phone calls yourself. [sic] specifically for the safety of all actors. I am disgusted by these allegations and hope that everyone will see the truth for what it is.’

Pagone claimed that Coppola pulled her toward him and hugged and kissed her, saying, “I was in shock. I didn’t expect him to kiss me and hug me like that. I was blown away. And I can tell you, he came over a couple of times.”

According to a call sheet seen by Variety, multiple actresses were given permission for topless nudity in the scene. They also reported that Pagone did not appear nude and “wore a top with a plunging neckline.”

Coppola said the accusations against him were made “with knowledge of the untruth or with reckless disregard for the truth”

An insider told Variety that while filming the scene, Coppola said into a microphone, “Sorry, if I come up to you and kiss you. Just know that it’s just for my pleasure.”

Coppola’s complaint further alleges that the crew was required to sign a nondisclosure agreement and that the “call sheet reminded all actors and crew members that private photography on set was prohibited.”

It further stated that the disregard for these agreements rendered every source Variety used “unreliable” and that the publication “acted recklessly, without regard to truth or falsehood, in relying on such sources.”

In late August, Coppola told Rolling Stone that the allegations against him were “completely untrue” and that they were attempts to “damage the image.”

He explained that sources in the original report of The guard tried to ‘damage the image’ because, in his own words, he did not adhere to the ‘rules’ that are common in Hollywood.

In his complaint, he stated that those who told “deliberate and reckless lies” were “those they envy” and that they “hate genius.”

Pictured: Coppola poses with the cast of Megalopolis

A source said the $120 million project was funded by Coppola, so there was no HR department “keeping an eye on things.”

While intimacy coordinators Samantha McDonald and Ashley Anderson were working on the film, they were not on set during the scene in question.

One of the film’s producers, Darren Demetre, explained to The Guardian that the filmmaker’s actions were in the spirit of the scene, namely an attempt to “inspire and create a 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 misconduct” during the project.

According to The Wrap, Coppola is seeking $15 million in general and specific damages, unspecified punitive damages, coverage of legal fees and “any further relief the court deems appropriate,” as well as a jury trial.