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Francis Ford Coppola confirms he kissed extras on Megalopolis set

While saying the Guardian’s report that he tried to kiss female extras was ‘totally untrue’, the director told Rolling Stone ‘they were young women I knew’

Describing the Guardian report as “totally untrue” Coppola said: “The young women I kissed on the cheek, in regards to the New Year’s scene, they were young women I knew.” Referring to the Guardian’s report on high crew turnover (and a previous article in the Hollywood Reporter) Coppola said: “The truth of the matter is, they were looking for some sort of dirt.” In the Guardian’s original report, Megalopolis’ executive co-producer Darren Demetre said that, during the club scene, “Francis walked around the set to establish the spirit of the scene by giving kind hugs and kisses on the cheek to the cast and background players ... Rayna Menz, an actor who said she was one of the extras involved in the nightclub scene was supportive of Coppola, telling Deadline: “He did nothing to make me or for that matter anyone on set feel uncomfortable.” In contrast, Lauren Pagone, another performer in the scene, told Variety: “I was in shock.

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