Scarlett Johansson believes alleged sexual abuser Woody Allen is innocent

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The controversies surrounding Scarlett Johansson never ends. After receiving flak for playing whitewashed roles, the actress is now being criticized for defending disgraced director and alleged sexual abuser Woody Allen.

In an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” Scarlett was asked about working with Woody again for “Match Point” despite accusations that he sexually abused his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow. “I love Woody. I believe him, and I would work with him anytime,” she said. “I see Woody whenever I can, and I have had a lot of conversations with him about it. I have been very direct with him, and he’s very direct with me. He maintains his innocence, and I believe him.”

The backlash has been intense, but warranted. Woody Allen had been accused multiple times of going after women who are younger than him. In 1992, the director left then-wife Mia Farrow to be with her adoptive daughter, Soon-Yi Previn. Woody first met Soon-Yi when she was only 10 years old. Then, in 2014, Dylan Farrow released an open letter detailing how she’d been molested by Woody when she was seven years old.

Last year, Woody allegedly pursued model Babi Christina Engelhardt when she was only 16, and they were together for eight years. She told “The Hollywood Reporter” that Woody used their relationship as a storyline for Manhattan, which is a film about a 17-year-old having a relationship with an older man played by the director himself.

Sadly, Hollywood has brushed off these accusations because Woody is a “respected” figure in the film industry. Some of his muses like Kristen Stewart and Scarlett Johansson have also defended him and called him a brilliant director. Are we really surprised that the latter said she believes he’s innocent?

What are your thoughts on Scarlett’s statement?

[IndieWire]

Photo courtesy of @scarlettjohansson.se’s Instagram account

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