Top Stories

Olivia de Havilland Sues Ryan Murphy & FX Over 'Feud' Portrayal

Olivia de Havilland Sues Ryan Murphy & FX Over 'Feud' Portrayal

Olivia de Havilland is suing FX and Feud: Bette and Joan executive producer Ryan Murphy over the way they portrayed her on the limited series.

The legendary actress, who celebrates her 101st birthday on Saturday (July 1), was played by fellow Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones on the series.

Olivia says that she has a reputation for not gossiping or expressing an unkind behavior, but she was portrayed in the opposite way on Feud. She also says that she was not asked to give permission to use her likeness on the show.

“[A]ll statements made by Zeta-Jones as Olivia de Havilland in this fake interview are completely false, some inherently so; others false because they were never said,” de Havilland‘s lawyer writes in the complaint (via THR). “FX defendants did not engage in protected First Amendment speech in putting false words into the mouth of Olivia de Havilland in a fake interview that did not occur and would not have occurred.”

“Zeta-Jones’ de Havilland refers to Joan Fontaine as her ‘bitch sister,’ an offensive term that stands in stark contrast with Olivia de Havilland’s reputation for good manners, class and kindness,” the complaint adds.

Olivia says no one contacted her about the show, despite her being the only living person who experienced the events depicted in the show. A couple months ago, she explained why she would not watch the series.

Just Jared on Facebook
olivia de haviland sues ryan murphy fx over feud portrayal 01
olivia de haviland sues ryan murphy fx over feud portrayal 02
olivia de haviland sues ryan murphy fx over feud portrayal 03
olivia de haviland sues ryan murphy fx over feud portrayal 04
olivia de haviland sues ryan murphy fx over feud portrayal 05

Photos: Getty
Posted to: feud, Olivia de Havilland, Ryan Murphy