Paramount’s Jeff Shell Fires Back: Exec Says Allegation He Leaked Private Corporate Info Is ‘Utterly False Tale’ Created in a ‘Shakedown’ Attempt

Jeff Shell, the president of Paramount Skydance, is accusing a “fixer” who has demanded $150 million from Shell for crisis communications of trying to extort and defame him, by creating “an utterly false tale that Shell had disclosed confidential details about Paramount’s business.”

Shell was sued March 9 by R.J. Cipriani, who alleged in the lawsuit that he had a relationship with Shell for 18 months, in which Cipriani tipped Shell off to forthcoming news articles and offer advice. The suit also alleges that Shell would share non-public information with Cipriani about Paramount’s plans.

On Monday (March 16), attorneys for Shell filed…