Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Olivia De Havilland Sues "Feud: Bette And Joan" For Unauthorized Depiction
Olivia de Havilland. (Photo by David Livingston / Getty Images)
()
Olivia de Havilland, the 101-year-old iconic Hollywood actress, is suing Ryan Murphy's Feud: Bette and Joan for using her name and identity without permission. She filed the suit in Los Angeles Superior Court Friday, according to the L.A. Times, claiming both that "FX didn’t ask permission to use her name and identity and did not compensate her for the use."
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays de Havilland in the show, serving as commentator on the two main actresses throughout the eight-episode series. De Havilland's attorneys say this is a false representation of their client, explaining how de Havilland spent her career "specifically refusing to engage in gossip mongering about other actors in order to generate media attention for herself." Their statement continues, accusing FX of portraying de Havilland in "a false light to sensationalize the series," according to the L.A. Times.
The suit requests "jury trial, sweeping damages and unplugging the potential Emmy-contending show with an injunction," according to Deadline. FX and Ryan Murphy's team declined requests to comment.
De Havilland's lawyers claim she is the only person portrayed in the show who is still living. Vanity Fair points out that Bette Davis' daughter, portrayed in the show by Kiernan Shipka, is also alive.
Support for LAist comes from
This isn't de Havilland's first experience with entertainment lawsuits; her lawsuit against Warner Bros. in 1943 ushered in the De Havilland Law, which eliminated the studio system's ability to require services from an entertainer seven years after their contract began. At the time, most entertainment lawyers would extend contracts by claiming they only applied to actual days of work; since most entertainers don't have work 365 days of the year, this allowed the studios to keep contracted artists under their control for indefinite periods. De Havilland's lawsuit put a cap on this contractual agreement and created a paradigm shift where creative power moved to the side of the artists rather than the studios.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist