Ryan O'Neal Sued Over Warhol Portrait Of Farrah Fawcett
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A publicist for Ryan O'Neal blasted a lawsuit that accuses the actor of refusing to turn over an Andy Warhol painting of Farrah Fawcett to the University of Texas.
The university filed a complaint against O'Neal in Los Angeles federal court Friday, alleging the second of two Warhol silkscreens of the late "Charlie's Angels" star belongs to the school since Fawcett donated her art collection to her alma mater before she died in 2009.
O'Neal's spokesman, Arnold Robinson, called the lawsuit "ridiculous."
"The University of Texas has known for more than a year that Ryan O'Neal has had this painting in his possession," Robinson said. "Ryan O'Neal's friendship with Andy Warhol began 10 years prior to his meeting Farrah Fawcett. When Ryan introduced Andy to Farrah, Mr. Warhol chose to complete two portraits of her, one for Ms. Fawcett and one for Mr. O'Neal."
"Mr. O'Neal looks forward to being completely vindicated in the courts," Robinson added.
The Fawcett silkscreen was seen last month hanging in O'Neal's home in an episode of the reality TV series "Ryan & Tatum: The O'Neals."
The other Warhol portrait of the actress hangs in the university's art museum.
