Exclusive! New blast in Farrah war!

After Craig Nevius filed his response to a lawsuit against him by the trustee of Farrah Fawcett's estate (and business manager of his arch-enemy Ryan O'Neal) Richard B. Francis, in which he claims Francis is mishandling Farrah's money, O'Neal threatened to kill him while wresting control of the cancer documentary Nevius and Farrah had been producing together, and Alana Stewart misused her relationship with Farrah to sell a book, the estate and trio's attorney, Howard Weitzman responded:

"I've read Mr. Nevius' response to our complaint which I think contains spurious and outrageous allegations. I'm confident the truth will all come out during the course of the litigation."

Here, exclusively, Nevius responds to Weitzman's response:

"Mr. Weitzman THINKS my lawsuit contains 'spurious and outrageous allegations?' You mean, he doesn't KNOW? Itdoesn't sound like he has unwavering confidence in his clients. But he is right about one thing: the truth will come out during litigation. And it will reveal that Ryan O'Neal is a monster, Alana Stewart is soulless and Richard Francis acts like a thug. Of course, the fees Mr. Weitzman and his firm will have collected from Farrah's estate to represent these horrible people will still spend the same."


Nevius sued O'Neal, Stewart and Francis over the Farrah's Story documentary which aired on NBC last year, claiming they went against Farrah's wishes and improperly cut him out of the process. Francis responded with a lawsuit on behalf of the estate, claiming that Nevius botched a first edit of the documentary and "embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars" from the actress' company. Nevius's filing states that he is not seeking any money from Farrah's estate.

Farrah died at age 62 on June 25 after a three-year battle with cancer.

UPDATE: Click here to read the Nevius court papers at RadarOnline.

Farrah Fawcett planned Lee Majors reunion

Ryan O'Neal has claimed Farrah Fawcett in death, but had she survived, the icon actress would have reunited with her ex-husband Lee Majors.

Majors' manager Denny Bond says Farrah had been in secret talks about joining the former Six Million Dollar Man in a Las Vegas production of the play, Love Letters.


The pair, who split after six years of marriage in 1979, would have played ex-lovers who spend their entire lifetime trying to get back together.

Sez Bond: "We had many discussions with Lee and Farrah and we had planned on a Las Vegas opening and doing a Los Angeles charity performance for her soon-to-be established cancer foundation as the kick-off to the tour."


The show would have been produced by Craig Nevius, Farrah's television and documentary production partner who is a battle of lawsuits against O'Neal and company over his axing from Farrah's cancer documentary that became a tawdry (if Emmy-nominated) NBC News-affiliated special.

Sez Nevius: "Love Letters was the perfect stage play for the two of them. Lee would have played a conservative, no-nonsense politician who had been in love with his childhood sweetheart for decades.


"Farrah would have played his childhood sweetheart who grew up to be an eccentric, free-spirited artist. Farrah had a lot of ideas. She was excited about the whole thing. So was Lee."

Added one wag: "All that was left was to hire Greg Lott to run the souvenir stand in the lobby and the love would have been everywhere."


Farrah and Majors had been estranged for decades, but reconnected in the months before her death on June 25th.

We settle the fight between Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett's production partner Craig Nevius over "Farrah's Story"

Outrage over Ryan O'Neal producing a sequel to the NBC special Farrah's Story that includes his and Farrah Fawcett's troubled drug addict son Redmond? The storm began even before Farrah's death last June, when Craig Nevius, Farrah Fawcett's production partner on her cancer documentary, A Wing and A Prayer, sued O'Neal, O'Neal and Farrah's longtime business manager Richard B. Francis and Farrah's friend and documentary camerawoman Alana Stewart for pushing him out of the project that became the controversial Farrah's Story. Last month, O'Neal fired back as Francis sued Nevius on behalf of Farrah's estate.

We contacted Craig Nevius, asking for his reaction to this latest twist-- and with an idea for settling at least one part of the sad saga. He responded via email.

What's your reaction to Ryan O'Neal's sequel to Farrah's Story?

I’m sure that any project Ryan or Alana may produce will be of the same quality that most of us have come to know and expect from both of them.

What are the chances of you getting a copy of the original footage and the rights to produce and release the original A Wing and A Prayer director's cut that Farrah wanted made? Would that settle things?

First, let me correct the premise of your question (and a growing misconception born out of the lawsuit that “Farrah’s Estate” filed against me last month): there is no such thing as a “Director’s Cut” of A Wing and A Prayer. While I am (and have always been) the director of the film, every edited version was the “Executive Producers’ Cut.” Meaning it was not only my work but Farrah’s work as well.

The idea that I was working in a vacuum and then, suddenly, after almost two years of editing, simply “presented” her with “my version” is as ridiculous as it is untrue. Anyone who ever got to know Farrah, let alone got the chance to work with her, knows that control was not something that she easily gave up, much less gave into (if someone else tried to exert it). And while Farrah had many talents, biting her tongue was not one of them. She always insisted that people around her “say what you mean and mean what you say.” And she did the same. In my experience, Farrah rarely changed her mind.


Even though Farrah couldn’t be in the editing room on a daily basis, we spoke almost every day, usually several times a day, often for hours on end. And we screened new scenes and/or sequences together every two or three weeks (unless she was in Germany, but even then we tried to speak once a week even if it was at 4:30 in the morning Los Angeles time). Changes to the film were made based on her artistic vision as well as her medical condition: which means both her triumphs and setbacks dictated our direction. She was, after all, still living the “story” we were telling.

"Farrah never wanted this project
to be about death.
She wanted it to be about
the fight for a chance at life."

But what she made clear to me early on was that if it suddenly became apparent that the end was near, we needed to make sure that the story in the film ended first. Because Farrah never wanted this project (or its promotion) to be about death. She wanted it to be about the fight for a chance at life. That’s why we chose to use “I Run For Life," Melissa Etheridge’s inspirational anthem to cancer patients everywhere, near the end of the documentary. Farrah’s video diary was never supposed to rely on talking heads to narrate the story, much less reminisce about her in the past tense. It was not to be a tribute and it was certainly not meant to be a eulogy. Farrah knew that there would be plenty of those on The Today Show and Entertainment Tonight and if the worst were to happen.

So what about the question we asked: What if you were allowed to release that original documentary so the pubic can have both?

My lawsuit is asking the court to declare that the Sweetened By Risk Agreement (signed by Farrah and by me) is our company’s only legally valid (and therefore controlling) operating agreement. If that is the court’s finding, then yes, A Wing and A Prayer will be seen by the world. But until that time comes, the only audience likely to see it will be the judge and jury.


And that’s only because the accusations made by Richard Francis in the estate’s lawsuit against me made the quality of the work relevant-- when it was not necessarily relevant before (in my lawsuit for contract interference). At least that’s my understanding of it. But you have to remember, my only law degree comes from watching Boston Legal.

Would you accept that?

Yes. My lawsuit has always been primarily about two issues: my rights and my responsibility. That’s how Sweetened By Risk’s Operating Agreement reads. It clearly states that if Farrah becomes unable to function for any reason (including and specifically illness), I not only had the right to make all business and creative decisions for our company, I also had the responsibility to do so.

So you see, even if I wanted to settle for something less than completing the film as Farrah intended, I really couldn’t. At least not if I wanted to live with myself. Sure, money would be great. But I know that it wouldn’t last nearly as long as the guilt I would feel for selling out Farrah. She fought too long and too hard for me not to do the same.

Has the other side offered to settle with you for money?

Whether they did or not, I wouldn’t be able to talk about it.

***

It sounds simple enough: Show us the movie. Farrah's fans, O'Neal's supporters, and the world will only be richer for getting even more insight into Farrah, and seeing her ordeal through her own eyes.

The lawsuits would be settled and everyone involved could be satisfied that Farrah is indeed "resting in peace."

Ryan? Bernie?

Is the producer of Farrah Fawcett sequel also Farrah Fawcett's sequel?

Sources tell us that the woman in these pictures, who has been seen at Ryan O'Neal's side since Farrah Fawcett's funeral and around his Malibu beachhouse in the months since, is O'Neal's handpicked producer for the sequel to the Farrah's Story tabloid special.

She is identified as "Stephanie Lynn." She has been alternatively described as "Ryan O'Neal's assistant." (IMDb has entries for two Stephanie Lynns, an actress and a television talent coordinator named Stephanie Lynn, born August 23, 1977 in Tucson Arizona, most recently of the Dr. Phil show, and a former researcher for Creep Tales.)


O'Neal's publicist Arnold Robinson has confirmed that the production process is underway.

"My understanding," he says, "is that he is collecting recollections/memories of Farrah from her friends and family for archival purposes."


No word if NBC, which aided in the altering of Farrah's cancer journal, A Wing And A Prayer into the O'Neal-flavoured Farrah's Story, is involved with the sequel, though the Emmy nomination and ratings garnered by the original would seem to point in that direction.


Developing...

Ryan O'Neal shows up on Extra, being interviewed by Alana Stewart's son

Ryan O'Neal has surfaced on the syndicated television infotainment show, Extra, in an interview with "special correspondent" Ashley Hamilton, the son of Alana Stewart.

Extra is promoting O'Neal's claim that he is once again on good terms with his drug-addicted daughter Tatum O'Neal, whom, he volunteered to Vanity Fair, he "hit on" at Farrah Fawcett's funeral.

From Extra's site:

"'Extra' has Ryan O'Neal in his first television interview since losing partner Farrah Fawcett in June.

"O'Neal tells 'Extra' special correspondent Ashley Hamilton that since Farrah's death he has repaired his rocky relationship with daughter Tatum O'Neal. Ryan said, 'It's so nice to see her again. I've missed her terribly and that's a big step for me and her.'

O'Neal is keeping busy. He'll will appear on '90210' this season and is continuing Fawcett's legacy with The Farrah Fawcett Foundation.

"'I'd rather have Farrah back, but we will take what we can get,' O'Neal says. 'We talk about Farrah and we bring all those memories back and it almost makes me feel that she's still with us.'

"For more of Ryan O'Neal's exclusive interview tune in to 'Extra' on Friday!"

Will Farrah Fawcett's death be included in the sequel to "Farrah's Story" now being produced by Ryan O'Neal?

Ryan O'Neal has begun production on a sequel to the maligned and Emmy-nominated Farrah's Story television special, and the question left hanging is whether Farrah Fawcett's death will be included.

Farrah's Story was a revamped version of Farrah's cancer journal documentary that aired to high ratings in May 2009, a little more than a month before Farrah's death. Cameras continued to roll through the final weeks of Farrah's life, however, and there have been whispers that cameras were there as Farrah passed.

Ratings-hungry NBC has not been shy in showing the moment of death, as demonstrated last week of in its constant replaying of the brutal luge accident death of an Olympic athlete.

As we reported exclusively in June, the sequel was in the works even before Farrah was buried, as camera crews filmed Farrah's funeral services for the project.


The sequel is being billed as a "tribute" to Farrah, whose death on June 25th was overshadowed by that of Michael Jackson hours later.

RadarOnline.com reports that a producer for the project arrived in Texas earlier this month to shoot interviews with Farrah's friends, although at least one person (not Greg Lott) has refused to participate, in protest of O'Neal's involvement.

Farrah's Story began as a video journal produced by Farrah and her production partner Craig Nevius, who sued O'Neal, Alana Stewart and business manager Richard B. Francis for pushing him out of the project and turning a serious medical documentary into a maudlin exploitative show. As the battles continue to rage behind the scenes, Francis sued Nevius on behalf of Farrah's estate, accusing him of mucking up the doco and even stealing her money.

Kate Jackson wants to move to Australia

Suspicions that former Charlie's Angels actress Kate Jackson picked a fight with Ryan O'Neal as a way to revive her career have been put to rest by a portion of her story that has yet to receive widespread exposure in the Hollywood media: she is planning to leave the country.

Jackson raised a storm when she claimed last week that O'Neal and Alana Stewart had prevented her from visiting her dear friend Farrah Fawcett in the final weeks of her life. The uproar was kicked into hurricane status when she made a stunning reversal and backed Craig Nevius in his legal battle against O'Neal and Stewart over their commandeering of his and Farrah's cancer documentary. Jackson also suggested that O'Neal had coerced a delirious Farrah into signing over the rights to him.


As it turns out, the interview that appeared on RadarOnline.com was conducted by international journalist Dylan Howard, known recently for bringing further exposure and validity to the claims by Farrah's college beau Greg Lott that O'Neal prevented him from visiting Farrah, his recent, secret lover.

A version of the story also appeared in Australia's Woman's Day magazine, and in a sidebar, the 61-year-old actress reveals her surprise plans:

"I want to move to Australia. When I started acting school, I thought, 'Gee, I would love to go to Australia,' but then my life took off.

"I ended up going in the '80s for the Logies... and I think it is great there. Australia to me feels like America when I was growing up. It feels safe. Here, I can't let my 14-year-old son go ride his bike without supervision. You need to put a GPS chip in him to do that.

"I'll live in the city in the beginning, to meet people, and then move somewhere where I will be more comfortable.

"I'm too young to retire. I want to work and Australia is the place for me to do that."

"Call Me A Liar?" Now Kate Jackson disputes Farrah Fawcett's signature that allowed Ryan O'Neal to take over her documentary

Former Charlie's Angel says Kate Jackson has upped the ante in her war of words with Ryan O'Neal, now claiming she doubts the validity of the document that gave him and Alana Stewart control of the documentary that Farrah had been producing with Craig Nevius.

As we reported exclusively in May-- a month before Farrah's death-- Nevius is using the signature on the document as evidence that he was improperly removed from the video journal project that Farrah sold to NBC and O'Neal ultimately engineered into the maudlin, exploitative (high rating and Emmy-nominated) Farrah's Story. (Farrah's and O'Neal's business manager Richard B. Francis, on behalf of Farrah's estate, countered by suing Nevius for misappropriating funds and screwing up the documentary.)

Now the 61-year-old Jackson, who last year on NBC Today show attacked Nevius and slapped him with the "Devious" moniker, has made an extraordinary team-switch.

As O'Neal insists that Jackson is lying when she says he and Stewart kept her from "saying goodbye" to Farrah at the end of her life, Jackson has turned handwriting expert, telling RadarOnline.com that she questions Farrah's signature on the lawsuit document!

Farrah Fawcett signature, April 2008

Farrah Fawcett signature April 2009

"Farrah had such beautiful penmanship," Jackson is quoted as saying. "It caused me to become very sad and upset, when I saw that signed document, because I believed that she was not awake enough, because of the pain medication she required.

"Frankly, to me, that document didn't look like she could have a clue what she was signing."


Jackson also clarifies the "Devious" crack on the Today show:

"I was embarrassed. I was told before I did the Today Show that Craig Nevius was a crook and all this other stuff. I thought he was attempting to do all these awful things."

Jackson says it was soon after the Today interview that she Stewart told her that Farrah didn't want to see her.


"I wasn't allowed to ask Farrah if that was indeed the case that she didn't want to see me or others. "I wasn't allowed to talk to her on the phone, at all.

"Even if a person is in such pain that they sleep most of the time, if the phone was answered, or the messages weren't so full that you can't leave one, I could have had someone put the phone to her ear so I could tell her that I love her.

"Even if she was sleeping, I wouldn't have cared. I needed to do it But the phone was never answered or it was full of messages. That to me was weird.

"I am having a great deal of difficulty dealing with this. It is very, very, upsetting and I can't see myself ever getting over it."

Read more at RadarOnline.com.

Ryan O'Neal calls Kate Jackson a liar

Ryan O'Neal says Kate Jackson is a liar.

The 68-year-old actor, holder of Farrah Fawcett's legacy and father of her troubled, drug-addicted son, has remained on the sidelines, if a participant, in the battles over his on-off lover who died of cancer in June, and despite some provocative comments in the media, has had to be pulled into the fray, as he was when Farrah's college sweetheart and secret lover Greg Lott confronted him in the street with a camera crew in tow.

Now, however, he's stepped into the ring willingly to rebut Jackson, a Farrah friend of four decades as well as Charlie's Angel costar, who caused a stir last week when she claimed to RadarOnline.com that O'Neal had cut off her access to Farrah in the final weeks of her life. O'Neal tells RadarOnline that it's "not true.

"Firstly, Farrah spent the last week of her life in the hospital. Secondly, why would Kate be denied access to Farrah and then be invited to her services?"

Jackson said the last time she saw Farrah was at an intimate gathering in February 2009 for the icon's 62nd birthday. And though she had attacked Farrah's original documentary partner Craig Nevius, labelling him "Craig Devious," she recanted and is now siding with the producer in his legal battle over the doco against O'Neal, Farrah friend Alana Stewart and O'Neal business manager Richard B. Francis.


O'Neal's representative Arnold Robinson adds:

"Mr. O'Neal's only wishes are for Farrah to rest in peace and for her contributions and legacy to be remembered by the millions who loved her."

Kate Jackson claims Ryan O'Neal stopped her from visiting dying Farrah Fawcett

“I was shut out.
I was prevented from saying goodbye
to one of my best friends.”

Add Kate Jackson to the list of close friends who claim they were banned from visiting Farrah Fawcett in the final weeks of her life.

Farrah's Charlie's Angels costar and friend of four decades has come out with teeth and claws bared, charging that Ryan O'Neal and Alana Stewart suddenly cut off access to the actress as she lost her battle to cancer.

"I was shut out. I was prevented from saying goodbye to one of my best friends."

Kate says the she learned of the banishment suddenly, as she had arrived to visit Farrah' at her condo on Wilshire Boulevard. "I was walking across the lobby at her apartment, carrying a shopping bag with apples, grapes, green tea and as I got toward the elevator, the security guard yelled out ‘Ms. Jackson, no-one upstairs.’

“I turned around, looked at the guard and said, ‘What?’ I was stunned.

“I walked over to him. I was really incredulous because this particular guard had seen me from the beginning. I asked him why and he said he didn’t know, but it had come from upstairs.

“From that moment on, we weren’t able to see or talk to Farrah, again. It was very upsetting."


Jackson, 61, says she confronted Stewart and demanded to know why she and others were stopped from seeing Farrah.

“Alana told me that was what Farrah wanted, because she didn’t want anyone to see her like that."

“That, to me, didn’t make much sense because the whole world was about to see her like that in the documentary, Farrah’s Story. It didn’t sound right.

“On the miniscule possibility that what Alana said was true, I did not wish to do something against Farrah’s wishes and just burst in.

“On the chance it was Farrah’s wishes, we all didn’t want to upset her. I wanted to respect her wishes.

“But to be truthful, I wish I had burst in. I really do.”

Kate Jackson joins other Farrah intimates like secret boyfriend Greg Lott and production partner Craig Nevius, who claim that O'Neal stopped them from paying respects to their dear friend Farrah. She recently raised eyebrows when she "switched sides" and threw her support to Nevius in his lawsuit battle with O'Neal, Stewart and Richard B. Francis over the Farrah's Story documentary special.

She made her explosive comments to RadarOnline.com, the Internet branch of the National Enquirer that last week ran our exclusive story about the auctioning of a lock of Farrah's hair without attribution.

Has Alana Stewart become Farrah Fawcett?

"American Women in Radio & Television
Southern California announced
two new recipients of the 2010 Genii Awards.
In honor of her work with Farrah Fawcett,
Producer Alana Stewart will be presented
with the Excellence in Documentary Award
for the feature-length documentary 'Farrah’s Story'..."

When Ryan O'Neal could not make the trips to Germany with Farrah Fawcett when she sought out state-of-the-art treatment for her cancer, Farrah's friend, the Hollywood ex-wife Alana Stewart went in his place. Alana held the home video camera as Farrah set out to document her ordeal for a video diary she wanted to call A Wing and A Prayer. With those tapes and more, Farrah and her production partner Craig Nevius began to create the documentary. After Farrah sold the project for airing on NBC, her health took a turn for the worse,and O'Neal took control of her estate, and removed Nevius from the documentary project. With the help of would-be tabloid producers on loan from NBC Dateline, new, even more intrusive was added, sad music was sprinkled in, the title changed to Farrah's Story in a nod to O'Neal's 40-year-old star vehicle, Love Story, and after a strong battle, Alana Stewart was granted a "producer" credit.

Less than a week after Farrah's funeral, Alana Stewart announced she'd secured a deal for a book about her friendship and travels with Farrah.

On Farrah's birhtday, she announced the formation of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation for cancer research. Alana Stewart's photo was the only one other than Farrah's to appear on the site.


Today, an organization called "American Women in Radio and Television Southern California" awarded a 2010 Genii Award for "Excellence in Documentary Award" to Alana Stewart.

According to the group's press release:

"'Farrah’s Story' is a compelling and transparent chronicle of actress Farrah Fawcett’s courageous fight against cancer. Early on when she was first diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, Fawcett’s close friend Alana Stewart - who produced “Farrah’s Story” and handled most of the camerawork – was by her side. Fawcett, a former Genii Award recipient and honoree, decided to film her experiences, and turned the camera duties over to Stewart, resulting in an honest and uncompromising look at Fawcett’s vibrant life and indomitable spirit as she confronted her disease. The two-hour documentary aired May 2009 just one month before the star’s tragic death. Alana Stewart is an accomplished producer, model, actress, and is also the author of the New York Times best selling book, 'My Journey with Farrah: A Story of Life, Love, and Friendship' released in 2009."

As of our posting, Alana Stewart has not declined the award or offered it up to Farrah Fawcett. The gesture would not be unfitting, for after all, Farrah was executive producer of the project, (which in television terms is the person who runs the show), and this documentary was Farrah's.


How about you? Do you think Alana Stewart deserves an "Excellence in Documentary Award"?

Angel's first birthday in Heaven

Happy birthday, Farrah Fawcett!

Exclusive: Birthday angel at Farrah's grave

A holographic angel has been sighted on Farrah Fawcett's gravestone at the Westwood Village Meorial Park. A Tabloid Baby reader sent along the photos of the eerie paperweight, marked with the words "Happy B'day."


While legal battles raged on around her legacy since her death on June 25th, the beloved Hollywood icon and original Charlie's Angel would have celebrated her 63rd birthday on Tuesday, February 2nd.

Farrah lawsuit labelled "a load of sh*t"

LISA BOYLE/RADARONLINE.COM

"A load of shit!"
"A great big lie!"

Farrah Fawcett's documentary producing partner Craig Nevius has gotten another show of support from another member of Farrah's inner circle against the lawsuit filed by Farrah's estate and its executor, Ryan O'Neal's business manager Richard B. Francis.

This weekend, the National Enquirer's RadarOnline.com reports exclusively that Lisa Boyle has called the lawsuit accusing Nevius of botching Farrah's cancer documentary and possibly stealing her money “a load of s---” and “one big lie” (our staff figured out the translation of "s---").

“Farrah would not have wanted what is going on,” Boyle tells Radar.

LISA BOYLE/RADARONLINE.COM

Lisa Boyle is a photographer who met Farrah on the set of the 204 reality series, Chasing Farrah that was produced by Nevius. She remained a close friend and confidante of the icon until her death from cancer last June.

She is the latest Farrah insider, joining Charlie's Angel Kate Jackson and Farrah's former assistant Mike Pingel, supporting Nevius in his fight against O'Neal, Francis, and Alana Stweart. Nevius sued the trio for wresting control of his and Farrah's documentary project, A Wing and A Prayer after Farrah sold the footage to NBC, and then turning the cancer journey project into a maudlin, exploitative paean to Farrah and O'Neal's love, retitled Farrah's Story in a nod to O'Neal's film from 1970, Love Story.

The suit against Nevius, filed earlier this month, is seen to be a countersuit to his charges. Nevius has stated that he will use Farrah's written and videotaped statements in his defense, literally calling his partner to testify from beyond the grave.

Craig Nevius responds to Farrah lawsuit

"I will be happy to let the work Farrah and I did together
and Farrah's own words speak for me and defend me,
finally removing all doubt and suspicion as to what actually happened
during the final months of her life and who her real exploiters are."

We filled you in earlier this morning on the story behind the lawsuit by Farrah Fawcett's estate against Craig Nevius, the documentary producer who sued Farrah's sometime lover Ryan O'Neal and business manager Richard B. Francis for forcing him off Farrah's cancer project. Francis is the executor of the estate that filed suit against Nevius yesterday.

This morning, Craig Nevius sent us a statement in response, telegraphing his intention to call Farrah herself as a star witness from beyond the grave:

"These accusations are nothing more than a fabricated press release disguised as a lawsuit. As much as I would like to answer the allegations and disprove them right here and right now in the court of public opinion, I will wait to do so in a court of law. Out of respect to Farrah, I limited the focus of my lawsuit against Richard Francis, Ryan O'Neal and Alana Stewart to issues of contract interference. But it now seems that at least one of the defendants wants to widen the scope of litigation to issues of artistic integrity and the personal relationships between parties. If that is the case, I will be happy to let the work Farrah and I did together (over years) speak for itself. And I will be more than happy to let the video tapes, documents, witnesses and Farrah's own words (both written and spoken) speak for me and defend me, finally removing all doubt and suspicion as to what actually happened during the final months of her life and who her real exploiters are. This is a fight Francis, O'Neal and Stewart cannot win."

~Craig J. Nevius,
Executive Producer/Director
"Chasing Farrah" & "Farrah's Story"

Ryan O'Neal strikes back as his business manager countersues Farrah Fawcett's producing partner on behalf of her estate

Don't let the headlines fool you. Word that "Farrah Fawcett's estate" is suing her production partner Craig Nevius is the latest volley in a war that began when Nevius filed suit against Ryan O'Neal, his business manager Richard B. Francis and Alana Stewart for snatching control of the cancer documentary that was turned into a maudlin NBC special.

Nevius had claimed O'Neal and company threatened him in the power grab. In the suit filed yesterday, Farrah's-- and O'Neal's business manager Richard B. Francis filed suit yesterday on behalf of Farrah's estate and her company, Sweetened By Risk LLC.

The lawsuit claims Nevius exploited Farrah and improperly revealed privileged information about her to the media, including news that her cancer had returned. The suit also claims Nevius turned in an unworkable first cut of that documentary on Farrah's cancer fight and may have embezzled money from Sweetened By Risk.

The lawsuit states NBC, which aired the television special Farrah's Story, had to rework the footage with help from Fawcett's longtime, on-again, off-again lover, Ryan O'Neal. The edits were being made until shortly before the special aired, the lawsuit states.

Nevius' attorney, Miles J. Feldman responded:

"These allegations lack merit and are a pathetic attempt to try to intimidate and further injure Mr. Nevius."

We've covered the story extensively in the past year. After Farrah's health took a turn for the worst, Ryan O'Neal took control of Farrah's estate and cancer project, kicking Nevius to the curb and, with the help of producers from NBC's Dateline show, renamed it Farrah's Story (a nod to his star turn in Love Story forty years ago) and turned what was a video journal into a maudlin exploitative television special that featured a scene in which Farrah and O'Neal's shackled drug-addicted son climbs into her deathbed.

Nevius sued Francis, O'Neal and Fawcett's friend Alana Stewart over Farrah's Story last year, claiming that the trio interfered with his role in Farrah's Story. That suit is still pending

According to the lawsuit filed Friday, Nevius knew Farrah for about five years before she died on June 25th, working with her on the Chasing Farrah reality TV series and producing the documentary that eventually aired on NBC before Farrah cut ties to him in early 2009 and he became jealous of O'Neal and Stewart.

The lawsuit contends Nevius turned in a first cut of Farrah's Story that Farrah deemed "wholly unacceptable." She then turned creative control of the film over to O'Neal.

The complaint states Francis believes Nevius "embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars" from Farrah's company. It states Nevius has refused to allow Sweetened by Risk's financial records.

An interesting footnote: Farrah's Charlie's Angels co-star Kate Jackson is defending Nevius.

Though she'd been critical of him in the past, Kate said last night that her earlier comments were misguided, that as far as she knows Farrah had creative control when she worked with Nevius, and that she's shocked by the allegations:

"He had an unflagging devotion to Farrah in every way and he worked with her to help her achieve her vision, not his vision and not anybody else's vision."

Exclusive! Farrah's producing partner on Emmy loss: "We didn't deserve to win!"

If only to recognize Farrah Fawcett for her contribution to television culture and American history, it would have been nice to see the disputed NBC special, Farrah's Story, win the Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Special at last night's creative arts awards ceremony. The loss was a blow to fans and friends, but not to Farrah's business and producing partner Craig Nevius, who produced the basis for the special with Farrah before she was weakened by cancer and he was edged out by her lover and caretaker Ryan O'Neal. Nevius sent Tabloid Baby this exclusive reaction:

In terms of Farrah's Story not winning: I have mixed emotions about it. I would have liked for Farrah to have been be honored her bravery, honesty and artistry-- not only in fighting this disease but in fighting it on camera in front of the whole world. But I can't lie and say the final product deserved to win.

As most everybody knows by now, the documentary was never finished (at least not if it was really Farrah's story). I was thinking about this on the way home last night. And I remembered a conversation I had with Farrah about her art. I asked her why she had so many unfinished paintings and sculptures. She explained that her art was like her life. It was always evolving and getting a little more interesting. That's why it needed to stay unfinished (for as long as it possibly could). I think my point is that Farrah wanted to surprise herself. She wanted to go to places that most other people, including herself, had never been before. Or even knew existed.

Like when we were in New York (shooting Chasing Farrah). We wrapped up a little early one afternoon and Farrah wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to go to the Empire State Building. That was the one thing that she had never had time to do on any previous trip to NYC. I told her that I would go with her. A few people from the crew came along -- including her old friend (and hair stylist) Mela Murphy as well as a new friend (and photographer) Lisa Boyle.

What was interesting about the trip was that Farrah immediately lost interest in the view from the 86th floor observatory where everyone else stood in awe of the skyline. That's because one of the security guards told us that there was an even higher vantage point in the building but the public wasn't allowed up there because it was a little bit dangerous. Well, that's all Farrah needed to hear. The fact that it was 'not allowed' and 'a little bit dangerous' made it all the more worth doing for her.


So we all went up to the 'tower attic.' It was like being inside a lighthouse that was still under construction. Except the floor was nothing but a metal construction grill that allowed you to see past your feet at a several story drop back down to the 86th floor. Actually, not all of us went up with Farrah. Mela wouldn't get out of the elevator. Lisa wouldn't even get in the elevator. This made it even more fun for Farrah who took delight in calling them both 'Fraidy cats!' She loved it.


I remember her giggling as she tested the sturdiness of the grill by hopping up and down on it like a kid on a new mattress. The view from the tower was so amazing that Farrah had to call her father to describe the sunset to him. Before we left Farrah noticed one of the tower walls: some construction workers and maintenance men had graffitied it. Well, Farrah didn't want to go without leaving her mark. I never forgot what she wrote.


Even though it sounded like a cliche I knew that it was more than that. I just didn't know what the deeper or more symbolic meaning was-- at least not at the time.

She wrote:

The Top
Farrah was here!
and proud of it!

It didn't matter to Farrah that most people would never see her name on that wall. Or even know that she was ever there. Because she knew. And she was proud of it.

It's a little bit like that with her documentary.

For me too.

In Heaven there is no Emmy for Farrah

'Farrah's Story,' the controversial and litigated NBC television spsecial based on Farrah Fawcett's cancer journal documentary and tweaked into a reality sequel to Ryan O'Neal's Love Story, lost out on the Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Special at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony this evening.

The Emmy went to The History Channel's '102 Minutes That Changed America.'

The battle over the rights to the special and its footage between Emmy-nominated executive producer Craig Nevius and O'Neal, his business manager and Farrah's friend Alana Stewart, will continue in court.

This was Farrah Fawcett's fourth Emmy nomination and many hoped it would have been her first, if posthumous, win. Farrah lost her battle against cancer on June 25th.

While Farrah Fawcett may win her first Emmy tomorrow night, her producing partner has already won a round in his court fight against Ryan O'Neal

Farrah Fawcett may finally win an Emmy on Saturday night, an award that's eluded her in three previous nominations in as many decades (The Burning Bed, Small Sacrifices & The Guardian). Should she win posthumously for the controversial Farrah's Story, the statuette won't be for her acting, but for her role as executive producer of the documentary she made chronicling her fight with cancer.

Meanwhile, Craig Nevius, Farrah's fellow producing nominee, is only beginning his own fight: a legal war with Ryan O'Neal over who has the right to tell Farrah's real story. Nevius and Farrah worked for almost two years on an unconventional yet inspirational "video diary" that would tell Farrah's story from her point of view. Yet, after Farrah sold the material to NBC and her health took a turn for the worse in April, she turned her affairs over to longtime lover O'Neal, who took control of the documentary, kicked Nevius to the curb and rejigged it with the help of NBC Dateline into an exploitation of a celebrity's death with a nod to his own film, Love Story.


Nevius filed a lawsuit against O'Neal, his business manager Richard Francis, and Alana Stewart, Farrah's friend who helped shoot some of the documentary footage and later held out for producing credit that has her up for an Emmy as well.

The lawsuit was in court this week. A Tabloid Baby contributor was there and sends us this unsolicited report:

"After Craig Nevius filed suit, O'Neal and Francis responded quickly and in full force by retaining the very prestigious and very powerful law firm of Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp to defend them against Nevius' claims, which the world-class attorneys characterized in court papers as "meritless," "frivolous" and "ludicrous."

Attorneys Kim Swartz and Karin Pagnanelli of MSK also attempted to minimize if not completely deny Nevius' true contribution to the documentary and his position in the company that he and Farrah had formed to own and license the the documentary worldwide (Sweetened By Risk LLC).

Nevius filed a motion to disqualify Swartz, Pagnanelli and their 100-year old law firm for conflict of interest. He claims that MSK had previously represented him as a producer as well an owner and member of Sweetened By Risk LLC (with Farrah).


Swartz, Pagnanelli and MSK have denied that any such attorney-client relationship existed and produced an alternative SBR LLC Operating Agreement dated June 5, 2008 (approximately eight weeks after Farrah and Nevius signed the April 1, 2008 Operating Agreement). This "renewal" agreement appears to have been unilaterally executed by Farrah, and contains a scrawled signature that's identical to the disputed signature from the April 20th, 2009 "Delegation of Authority" (to Ryan O'Neal and his business manager Richard Francis).

MSK seemed to be painting Nevius as a disgruntled employee who was angry at Farrah (for some unspecified reason) and was sought ownership and/or control of the documentary and SBR LLC out of revenge.

At a hearing on September 1st, MSK sent in a "big gun": managing partner Thomas P. Lambert appeared in court to make arguments against the disqualification of Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp over a dispute in a two person LLC with only one asset.

Across the table from Lambert and company was a single lawyer representing Nevius: Miles Feldman of Liner, Grode, Stein, Yankelevitz, Sunshine, Regenstreif & Taylor LLP.

The lone attorney was enough, as Judge Joseph S. Biderman granted Nevius' motion for the disqualification (the "tentative ruling" has since been made official).

Judge Biderman agreed with Nevius' attorney that the case is a dispute about ownership and control of SBR and the film. Therefore there was conflict of interest for the company's attorneys (Swartz and Pagnanelli et al) who would likely be called as witnesses over the various agreements and delegations that they allegedly drew up.

As a result Judge Biderman's ruling, O'Neal and Francis must now retain new, unbiased representation or formally appeal the motion in the hopes that the ruling will be overturned.

Nevius was seen in the courtroom.

None of the defendants was present.

Both the plaintiff and the defendants, however, are expected to be at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Farrah's Story is the favorite to win the Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Special.

As Nevius said in his recent interview with Retroality.tv's Chris Mann: "The fact that this documentary touched so many people (and received an Emmy nomination) is a real tribute to Farrah. It succeeded in reaching people in spite of everything that Ryan and Alana did to it (and tried to do to it). Because at the end of the day, Farrah was still Farrah.""