Nicolas Cage’s ex-wife, Christina Fulton, is suing both the actor and their 34-year-old son Weston after the latter allegedly assaulted her last spring.
While she’s accusing Weston of the attack, she’s also going after her ex-husband for his “negligent supervision.” Fulton claims that Cage enabled their son’s “manic rage” and ignored his mental health issues.
Weston, an actor whose recent films include D-Day and Boneyard, was widely criticized last April for allegedly beating his mother. At the time, TMZ reported that Fulton invited her son over to help him with an “emotional moment” before the duo began to argue.
It supposedly got physical, and first responders were called to Fulton’s house. Her son was gone by the time police arrived. In the days that followed the 57-year-old actress was spotted in L.A. with a black eye and several facial bruises.
In July 2024, Weston was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was later released on bond. Fulton insists that her son was in the midst of a mental breakdown, and that the beating caused her severe and life threatening injuries—a concussion, multiple contusions, injuries to her eye and teeth, and a number of psychological issues like PTSD. She describes her son as a 300-pound professional fighter.
Fulton also says that the alleged assault “derailed” her career and prevented her from appearing at film and brand promotion events.
She maintains that Cage should have prevented their son from attacking her, especially given she says Weston has a “mental and psychological disorder” and a history of “committing violent assault and battery.”
Fulton has leveled a range of charges against the pair: assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress for Weston; negligent supervision and negligent undertaking for Cage; and negligence for both.
“Nicolas has been aware of Weston’s history and nevertheless failed to take action to prevent Weston from committing acts of violence and harming others,” states the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles County’s Superior Court of California.
Fulton asserts that her ex has repeatedly bailed their son out of jail. Despite knowing about Weston’s struggles with substance abuse, she says, the National Treasure star drank alcohol with him. She says he also paid for Weston’s Los Angeles condo.
“Nicolas knew or should have known that Weston posed a serious and imminent danger to others, including Plaintiff, based on his documented history of violent assaults, substance abuse, and mental instability,” the lawsuit states.
Cage’s lawyers, however, say that the allegations are “absurd” and “frivolous.”
“Weston Coppola is a 34-year-old man,” says Cage’s lawyer. “Mr. Cage does not control Weston’s behavior in any manner and is not responsible for Weston’s alleged assault of his mother.”
Weston’s attorney said that Fulton’s lawsuit was “not surprising” given her “past history of litigation against family members.” He added that it “appears to be nothing short of a money grab and call for attention” and that the case would be dealt with in the courtroom.
Cage and Fulton dated from 1988 to 1991, and Weston was born the year before they broke up. He’s had scuffles with the law throughout his life. In 2011, he was reportedly arrested on felony domestic violence charges after an incident at singer Nikki Williams’ house, whom he was married to at the time.
In 2017, he was reportedly arrested for a hit and run, as well as a DUI. Weston and his mother also sued his third wife Hila Cage Coppola for defamation in 2023. Both claimed that she had embezzled $100,000 and asked for a “fraudulent restraining order” that would prevent Fulton and her family from seeing Weston’s twin daughters.
Weston and Cage Coppola finalized their divorce shortly after the alleged assault against Fulton in 2024. Under their agreement, Cage Coppola could continue to have sole custody of their twin children. Weston was given no visitation rights at the time.
It is still unknown how much money Fulton is requesting in damages.
