photo source:aceshowbiz
Farrah Fawcett’s personal assistant, Craig Nevius, has decided to tell the world the Ryan O’Neal stole an Andy Warhol painting from Fawcett’s collection. The only problem is that the painting in question belongs to O’Neal.
Fawcett’s art collection was bequeathed to her alma mater, the University of Texas, when she died in 2009. UT has opted to believe Nevius’ claim that O’Neal stole the painting. They are suing the actor, demanding O’Neal return the silkscreen of himself and Fawcett that Warhol made back in the 1980’s or give them cash value thought to be about $30 million.
Well, O’Neal will have no part of that and has filed a defamation lawsuit against Nevius seeking $1 million in damages. O’Neal stands by his claim that the painting is his and wasn’t part of Fawcett’s collection. He says that Nevius is, “deeply obsessed with Ms. Fawcett” and “deeply jealous of her relationship with her longtime romantic partner.” “Nevius’ false, malicious and defamatory accusations that O’Neal stole the Warhol portrait are a desperate attempt to draw attention to himself by fabricating a controversy where none exists,” states the complaint.
O’Neal has a few accusations of his own for Craig Nevius. He claims that Nevius has had a string of malicious behavior, including selling Fawcett’s private medical info to the gossip rags. He also believes Nevius has embezzled funds from the company Fawcett set up to produce the documentary of her life.
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