14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, NBC aired a preview of the upcoming two-hour documentary “Farrah’s Story,” detailing the actress’ long battle with anal cancer, along with segments from an interview with partner Ryan O’Neal. Hours after the footage was aired, one of Farrah’s longtime friends, producer Craig Nevius, was filing papers for a lawsuit against the terminally ill star’s partner, asking for an unspecified amount in damages, TMZ informs.
Nevius is not only one of Farrah’s old friends, but he’s also the same man who, a short while back, shot down rumors that the star’s hospitalization had anything to do with her cancer and who spoke in such loving terms of her. Now, it seems, the producer changed his mind, since he speaks in court papers of having his contract violated and even his personal security threatened.
Nevius is asking for an unspecified amount on the grounds that he was the one who should have handled production on “Farrah’s Story,” but that he was pushed aside and even threatened by O’Neal on more than one occasion. “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’ contractual relationship with Ms. Fawcett...’” court documents read, as per TMZ.
O’Neal repeatedly told Nevius to back out from the project, and then resorted to making threats when he saw he wouldn’t comply, it is further alleged. According to the papers, O’Neal tried to push the producer out because he wanted all the proceeds from the documentary to go straight to him, which is why he’s now asking for the court to grant him the rights to manage the project – and some money in damages, of course.
Despite the claims made in the papers, Paul Bloch, a publicist who represents Farrah Fawcett, Ryan O’Neal and Alana Stewart, says Nevius is out for a quick buck by trying to exploiting Farrah at such a tragic time. “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. 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.’ Bloch tells TMZ.
The documentary “Farrah’s Story” airs today, Friday, May 15, on NBC.