Woody Allen has come under serious fire ever since the #MeToo movement resurfaced the 25-year-old allegation that the Academy Award winner sexually assaulted his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. Allen has denied the claim, and for decades it has had little impact on his reputation.
But, in the era of #MeToo, accusations of sexual violence committed by powerful men are being reexamined with a new fervor – and an understanding that misconduct could still have taken place even if an alleged assault was not reported by a victim or did not result in a conviction.
In a recent interview with the Argentinian news program Periodismo Para Todos, Allen was asked about the decades-old claim – and whether there was any truth to it.
"Of course not, this is just so crazy," the director and screenwriter replied. "This is something that has been thoroughly looked at 25 years ago by all the authorities, and everybody came to the conclusion that it was untrue. And that was the end, and I’ve gone on with my life. For it to come back now, I mean, my God, it’s a terrible thing to accuse a person of. I’m a man with a family and my own children. Of course, it's upsetting."
In recent months, several actors have expressed regret for working with Allen in the aftermath of some of Hollywood's elite being exposed as sexual predators.
"I think in any situation where anyone is accused of something unjustly, this is a sad thing. I think everybody would agree with that. Everyone wants justice to be done," Allen said. "Like the #MeToo movement now, you root for them. You want them to bring to justice these terrible harassers, these people that do all these terrible things. I think that's a good thing."
While Allen said he is very supportive of the #MeToo movement, it pains him that he is lumped in with people like Harvey Weinstein and others accused of sexual misconduct by scores of women. He reiterated that his only accusation was "by one woman in a child custody case, which was looked at and proven to be untrue." Although, this is not entirely accurate.
"As I say, I’m a big advocate of the #MeToo movement," Allen continued. "I feel when they find people who harass innocent women and men, it’s a good thing that they’re exposing them. But you know . . . it's funny. I should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement, because I have worked in movies for 50 years. I’ve worked with hundreds of actresses, hundreds and not a single one – big ones, famous ones, ones starting out – have ever, ever – not a single one – ever suggested any kind of impropriety at all. I’ve always had a wonderful record with them."
In regards to representation, Allen added that he has created "wonderful roles for many women," while dozens of women who've starred in his films have gone on to be nominated for prestigious awards. He also claimed that he has employed hundreds of women behind the scenes on the crew for his films, who were compensated equal to their male counterparts.
Allen's family has been visibly divided over the allegation. Mia Farrow, Allen's ex-partner, and her son, Ronan Farrow, have stood behind Dylan Farrow since she first disclosed the alleged encounter in 1992. But, Allen's adopted son, Moses Farrow, has come to defend his father in recent years. Last month, Moses wrote a lengthy blogpost, which accused Farrow of "brainwashing" and abusive behavior. It repeated many of Allen's talking points – that the claim was investigated and dismissed, and that this was a lone accusation in a long career.
Allen's forthcoming film, a romantic comedy titled "A Rainy Day in New York," currently has no release date, and stars Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez and Rebecca Hall said they have donated their salaries to various charities.
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