Scarlett Johansson continues to stick by Woody Allen
Scarlett Johansson is continuing to stick by her former director and longtime friend Woody Allen. After Johansson commented in a September interview with The Hollywood Reporter that she believed Allen was not guilty of the molestation charges brought against him by his daughter Dylan Farrow, the actor now appears in Vanity Fair and says that she stands by her comments.
“I love Woody. I believe him, and I would work with him anytime,” Johansson told THR earlier this year. “I see Woody whenever I can, and I have had a lot of conversations with him about it,” said Johansson, referring to claims made by Allen’s daughter Dylan Farrow that her father sexually abused her as a child. “I have been very direct with him, and he’s very direct with me. He maintains his innocence, and I believe him,” added Johansson.
Farrow was quick to respond to Johansson’s comments, tweeting that the Avengers star “has a long way to go in understanding the issue she claims to champion.”
Because if we’ve learned anything from the past two years it’s that you definitely should believe male predators who “maintain their innocence” without question. Scarlett has a long way to go in understanding the issue she claims to champion. https://t.co/S1NmttL9tJ
— Dylan Farrow (@RealDylanFarrow) September 5, 2019
Farrow wasn’t the only person upset by Johansson remarks, with many speaking out against the actor’s decision to stand by Allen, which was seen in direct contrast to her involvement in the #MeToo movement. “I do understand how that is triggering for some people,” says Johansson in the latest issue of Vanity Fair. “But just because I believe my friend does not mean that I don’t support women, believe women. I think you have to take it on a case-by-case basis. You can’t have this blanket statement—I don’t believe that. But that’s my personal belief. That’s how I feel.”
When asked about whether she regrets her previous comments on Allen, Johansson stands by her statement. “I don’t know—I feel the way I feel about it,” says the actor. “It’s my experience. I don’t know any more than any other person knows. I only have a close proximity with Woody…he’s a friend of mine. But I have no other insight other than my relationship with him.”
“I’m not a politician, and I can’t lie about the way I feel about things,” adds Johansson, who brings the conversation to an end in Vanity Fair by saying that although she continues to make public statements, she doesn’t think they’re helpful. “I think if I wanted to continue this conversation, it can be done personally with the people involved and not through statements to Vanity Fair. I don’t think that’s productive…it kind of feeds that sort of dragon.”
Allen and Johansson worked together 2005’s Match Point, 2006’s Scoop and 2008’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Johansson is currently promoting her latest films Jojo Rabbit and Marriage Story, with filming recently wrapped on the first stand alone Black Widow film. As for Allen, the stars of the director’s latest film A Rainy Day In New York, including Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Hall, Selena Gomez and Griffin Newman all donated their salaries to RAINN, the LGBT Center of New York and the Time’s Up Movement.
[video_embed id='-1']Scarlett Johansson could be our next actor-turned-politician[/video_embed]
