Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola is bristling at a new claim he allegedly ordered Keanu Reeves and other actors to insult Winona Ryder on the set of Bram Stocker‘s Dracula way back in 1992.

As we’ve been recently reporting, the accusation has popped back up after the 48-year-old actress mentioned it in a new interview this week. Now, however, the 81-year-old Hollywood legend is denying it, saying that was “not how it happened” on set nearly 30 years ago.

Speaking in a statement to People about the matter, Coppola rebuffed Ryder’s assertion there and said whatever happened was simply part of an “improvisation,” which is “a common filmmaking practice.”

And even though he denied the accusation that both Reeves and Anthony Hopkins were apparently told to hurl insults at Ryder (each man refused), Coppola did admit he had Gary Oldman whisper “unscripted horrific and evil words” to Winona and others on set while in character as Dracula. Yikes…

The director recalled the events back from his time on set, asserting specifically in the statement (below):

“While I think Winona is a wonderful actor, the incident she described is not how it happened, and shouting or abusing people isn’t something I do as a person or as a filmmaker. In this situation, which I remember clearly, I instructed Gary Oldman — in character as Dracula — to whisper improvised words to her and the other characters, making them as horrific and evil as he could. I don’t know what was said, but improvisation is a common filmmaking practice.”

Wow! That is, uh, quite the improvisational filmmaking practice if we’ve ever heard of one… But whether he shouted “You whore!” to Ryder might just be a battle over he said, she said.

Coppola is widely considered to be one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, having created The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and several other truly iconic films. Of course, that’s not to say he’s beyond criticism for alleged “improvisational” exercises while on set, though…

This new message comes after Mel Gibson fought back against the actress’ claims he made a disgusting anti-semitic comment to her decades ago, with his lawyer slamming her as a liar. She swiftly responded calling B.S. on the matter.

What do U think, Perezcious readers? Are you buying Coppola’s claim here that goes against what Ryder first alleged earlier this week? Or are you siding with the actress in this one?? Maybe Keanu could step in here with his recollection of the events!