Olivia de Havilland is starting her own feud with Ryan Murphy’s “Feud”
Adventures of Robin Hood actress Olivia de Havilland turns 101 years old today, and she shows no signs slowing down — or backing down. In fact, Olivia recently filed a lawsuit against FX Network’s Feud and television creator Ryan Murphy for their unsavory portrayal of her in the miniseries’s first season, Feud: Joan and Bette. The miniseries explores the tricky rivalry and infamous feud between Hollywood screen legends, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Olivia de Havilland on the show and is portrayed as a gossip peddler and shameless self-promoter.
According to Olivia’s lawyers, the actress has built her reputation by specifically refusing to gossip about other well-known celebrities (especially in an attempt to generate publicity for herself). That’s perhaps why de Havilland has found the Feud portrayal so damaging both professionally and personally.
It doesn’t help that Olivia de Havilland is the only living person portrayed in the miniseries — and that she was not consulted about her real-life experiences. What’s more, Feud creator Ryan Murphy admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that he never contacted Olivia de Havilland about the series, because he did not want to be intrusive. He told the publication:
"I didn't write Olivia because I didn't want to be disrespectful and ask her, 'Did this happen? Did that happen? What was your take on that?'"
When news of the lawsuit hit the Twitter-verse, users had plenty to say.
I hope that Olivia de Havilland's suit against FEUD FX involves emotional damages from Catherine Zeta Jones's terrible performance.
— Nathaniel Rogers ☮️ (@nathanielr) June 30, 2017
FX hoping they still have a network after Dame Olivia de Havilland is done with them. pic.twitter.com/acwdMTvC7z
— Eℓιzabeth 🥀 (@alittlebitwickd) June 30, 2017
Not sure I support it, but it's DELICIOUS that Olivia de Havilland is suing Ryan Murphy over #FeudFX. The perfect coda.
— Tom and Lorenzo (@tomandlorenzo) June 30, 2017
Olivia de Havilland is celebrating her 101st birthday by suing Ryan Murphy,in case you forgot she's a goddamn LEGEND https://t.co/Zxt4axsx6N
— Caroline Darya Framke (@carolineframke) June 30, 2017
Who will play Olivia de Havilland in the Ryan Murphy series about Olivia de Havilland suing Ryan Murphy?
— Sam Adams (@SamuelAAdams) June 30, 2017
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Olivia is suing for the following:
"...infringement of common law right of publicity, invasion of privacy and unjust enrichment and is asking the court for not only damages but also any profits gained from the use of her likeness and an injunction to keep FX from continuing to use her name and likeness."
Wowza! That’s quite a list. Unfortunately, for all parties involved, it seems this is one feud that won’t be resolved any time soon.
