The man who claims to be responsible for the Farrah Fawcett documentary that will air on NBC tomorrow night is suing Ryan O'Neal and others, claiming he was aced out of the project and O'Neal "physically threatened him."
Craig Nevius claims in his lawsuit he made a deal with Farrah back in 2004 to chronicle her life in a documentary called "Chasing Farrah." That project aired.
Nevius claims he then worked with Fawcett for two years on the current project. But the defendants -- notably Ryan O'Neal and Alana Stewart (Rod's ex) -- "began to take actions to wrongfully interfere with Nevius's contractual relationship with Ms. Fawcett..."
The suit claims in September, 2008, O'Neal contacted Nevius and demanded he relinquish control of the company that was producing the project -- Sweetened By Risk (SBR). The suit claims, "When Nevius respectfully declined, O'Neal physically threatened him." We spoke with Nevius by phone -- he said "Ryan threatened to kill me" during a telephone call.
The suit goes on ... On April 3, 2009, Stewart contacted Nevius and said Farrah "wasn't doing well" and wouldn't officially sign the deal with him -- even though Nevius says she had agreed to it.
The suit claims Farrah's business manager -- defendant Richard Francis -- misrepresented the project with NBC and then "made additional threats of physical violence against Nevius."
Nevius is suing for a declaration from the court that he has a binding deal to manage the project. He's also suing for damages.
UPDATE 1:34 ET We spoke with Paul Bloch, the rep for Farrah, Ryan and Alana. He told us, "I am shocked by this type of behavior. Here's a woman who everyone knows has been ill and to do something like this is horrific." Bloch adds, "This has been a very difficult time for Ryan O'Neal. When you see something like this you have to question the motives of someone who can be so hurtful during this very sensitive time in a person's life."
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The end must really be near now. TMZ is already starting their death exploitation. every other post for the next month will be speculation about Farrah
Why doesn't everyone just leave this woman alone?
And her family?
The media including you guys TMZ have jumped all over every little thing with her and her family including her son.
No wonder the kid's messed up now especially - his mom is seriously ill for God's sake!
And now this! Farrah, Ryan and their son have enough going on and on their minds without all this crap.
This person should go away at least have enough respect for her and her family to quit worrying about how much credit and money he gets from this project - this is her LIFE! It's not about $$$$$ and/or credit and this man is a leech and lower than a snake's belly in my opinion!
Leave her and her family alone media AND this jerk who feels the need to come in right now for HIS glorification and money whether it's true or not. What a low-down S.O.B.
This is the modus operandi for Farrah & Ryan and always has been. They're greedy and nasty.
This guy is suing because he claims he held a contract to make money off of her death? What a piece of garbage.
10. This guy is suing because he claims he held a contract to make money off of her death? What a piece of garbage.
Posted at 1:20PM on May 14th 2009 by D
If this is true, then I dont blame Ryan O'Neal for threatning him, if he did infact threaten him. This piece of garbage needs to let Farrah die in peace.
I so agree with what #10 said. This piece of crap sees dollar signs from a dying woman. It is only right that the people who love her and have been with her through this horrible time should be the ones to handle this project.
A typical LA pirahna, This is perhaps the one time that Ryan's ire was well-placed.
Live in the spotlight/die in the spotlight. Her side isn't exactly keeping a quiet vigil! And the suit is against O'Neal - not Farrah!
And the reason he's filing the day before airing, is....?
I say leave her alone, but too late. Lawsuits will continue. It's too late for her to be deposed. Something it seems he might have taken into account before filing suit.
I'm just sayin'
TMZ is preparing the CasketCAM as we speak. Live video feed from inside the grave.
