Paramount President Jeff Shell has filed a lawsuit against Las Vegas gambler R.J. Cipriani, alleging extortion and defamation. The countersuit comes after Cipriani sued Shell for $150 million, claiming Shell broke a promise to develop a music show. Shell claims that Cipriani manufactured false information about their dealings, then threatened public exposure when Shell refused to pay.
Shell’s lawsuit says that Cipriani used a trusted mutual connection to approach him and manufacture the illusion of closeness. He denies ever agreeing to hire Cipriani and claims that Cipriani manipulated texts to make it look like Shell had disclosed corporate secrets. The move comes as Shell faces scrutiny over his dealings with Cipriani, who is a self-styled whistleblower and “fixer.”
Cipriani’s suit alleged fraud and breach of an oral contract tied to his claims that Shell failed to deliver on a verbal pledge to help him develop the English-language version of a Spanish music show. However, Shell’s lawsuit pushes back against Cipriani’s allegations, saying he was the victim of extortion and defamation.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-03-16/paramounts-jeff-shell-strikes-back-against-vegas-gambler-cipriani-nbc-paramount-skydance-hollywood-david-ellison