In the latest news from the set of the highly anticipated film Megalopolis, an extra has come forward to share their experience regarding a controversial incident involving acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola. The extra, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has broken their silence about a moment when Coppola’s behavior reportedly crossed professional boundaries.
According to the extra, during a break in filming, Coppola engaged in what they describe as a forceful and unexpected kiss. The incident, which took place in a non-public area of the set, left the extra in a state of shock and confusion. They describe the encounter as deeply unsettling, noting that Coppola’s actions were both unexpected and unwanted.
Weeks ago, a video of the director forcefully kissing a female extra came forward. Lauren Pagone, an extra from the set came forward and revealed francis approached him and made uncomfortable physical contact “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.”
Another cast member also spoke to the publication, alleging that they observed Francis Ford Coppola kissing “multiple women” during a scene set at a New Year’s Eve celebration. According to their account, the filmmaker joked about “jumping in to kiss a few people,” instructing the extras to act as if they were at a typical holiday party.
The crew member who filmed the controversial video claimed that Francis Ford Coppola often disrupted scenes by inserting himself into the shots. His enthusiasm for hugging and kissing several women caused numerous retakes and frustration among the cast and crew. The crew member also reported that Coppola made an unsettling remark, saying, “Sorry if I come up to you and kiss you. Just know it’s solely for my pleasure,” which further added to the discomfort on set.
The recent videos of Francis Ford Coppola come after The Guardian reported in May about alleged misconduct on set, as shared by crew members. Coppola denied these claims to *The New York Times*, saying he was advised by his mother that making advances towards women is disrespectful, and he claimed he’s too shy and not touchy-feely.
Megalopolis executive producer Darren Demetre also commented, stating he was unaware of any harassment or bad behavior complaints during the project.
