Francis Ford Coppola says that he did kiss film extras on the set of his forthcoming film Megalopolis but that “they were young women I knew”.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Coppola responded to a question about a report in the Guardian that said the director tried to kiss female extras during preparation for a “bacchanalian nightclub scene”, and that significant numbers of crew left the project during production.

Describing the Guardian report as “totally untrue” Coppola said: “The young women I kissed on the cheek, in regards to the New Year’s scene, they were young women I knew.” Referring to the Guardian’s report on high crew turnover (and a previous article in the Hollywood Reporter) Coppola said: “The truth of the matter is, they were looking for some sort of dirt.”

In the Guardian’s original report, Megalopolis’ executive co-producer Darren Demetre said that, during the club scene, “Francis walked around the set to establish the spirit of the scene by giving kind hugs and kisses on the cheek to the cast and background players ... I was never aware of any complaints of harassment or ill behaviour during the course of the project.”

In July, Variety published footage of Coppola kissing extras, with a source criticising the lack of complaints procedures, saying: “Because Coppola funded it there was no HR department to keep things in check. Who were they supposed to talk to? Complain to Coppola and report Coppola to himself?”

Rayna Menz, an actor who said she was one of the extras involved in the nightclub scene was supportive of Coppola, telling Deadline: “He did nothing to make me or for that matter anyone on set feel uncomfortable.” In contrast, Lauren Pagone, another performer in the scene, told Variety: “I was in shock. I didn’t expect him to kiss and hug me like that. I was caught off guard. And I can tell you he came around a couple times.”

Megalopolis premiered at the Cannes film festival in May, and is due for release on 26 September in Australia and 27 September in the US and UK.