In 2018, Dylan Farrow, the adopted daughter of legendary director Woody Allen and Mia Farrow spoke for the first time in a public interview regarding the years of s*xual assault and molestation she faced from her father. Farrow first revealed shocking details back in 1992 with claims that Allen molested her from the age of 7. Following these allegations, Farrow received support from many Hollywood celebrities including Jessica Chastain, Reese Witherspoon, and Nathalie Portman who openly condemned Woody Allen.
Many actors who have worked with Woody Allen, including Michael Caine, Timothy Chalamet, and Greta Gerwig, have publicly expressed regret about doing so especially after the #Metoo movement gained impetus in Hollywood. But one female actor who surprisingly supported the director’s actions was Scarlet Johansson.
Scarlet Johansson Defended Woody Allen Despite His S*xual Record
While a whole section of the Hollywood fraternity stood by Woody Allen’s daughter Dylan Farrow as she leveled allegations at her father for molesting her, Scarlet Johansson shocked everyone by taking the opposite stand. The actor who was directed by Allen in 3 films namely Match Point (2005), Scoop (2006), and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) has always admitted that the director had played a key role in shaping her career. Possibly feeling indebted to the filmmaker, Johansson made a controversial statement about Allen’s s*xual misconduct and said,
“I love Woody. I believe him, and I would work with him anytime.”
Immediately following this statement, Johansson faced backlash from fellow actors and netizens for defending her director’s actions especially since she was a woman. The Black Widow actor then went on to clarify saying that she was always an advocate for women’s rights but felt that in this case, Allen deserved the benefit of the doubt.
Rebecca Hall Admitted Mistake Regarding Her Judgement About Woody Allen
Actor Rebecca Hall who starred in Woody Allen’s film Vicky Christina Barcelona along with Scarlet Johansson had a very different opinion about her director. She spoke openly about her regrets regarding Woody Allen and the allegations of molestation against him by his daughter. The star who had signed on a small role in Allen’s film A Rainy Day in New York, admitted that she regretted her decision following Dylan Farrow’s public takedown of her father. In a statement on Instagram, the star said,
“I see, not only how complicated this matter is, but that my actions have made another woman feel silenced and dismissed. That is not something that sits easily with me in the current or indeed any moment, and I am profoundly sorry. I regret this decision and wouldn’t make the same one today”.
Though Hall confessed that she could not distance herself from the role owing to her prior commitment to the film, she assured fans and victims of assault that she would donate her salary from the project to the Time’s Up legal defense fund that worked towards creating a safer environment in Hollywood.
Source: Indie Wire
