Scarlett Johansson, one of the world’s most recognizable movie stars, has publicly defended Woody Allen, the director she collaborated with on three films (“Match Point,” “Scoop,” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”).
For nearly thirty years, Allen has faced a single, long-standing sexual abuse accusation, and the resurgence of the #MeToo movement in 2017 brought renewed and intense scrutiny. As a result, Allen has been largely ostracized within Hollywood and has struggled to secure financing in the United States.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Johansson stated that she simply does not believe the allegations and continues to support Allen. She explained:
“You never know what the domino effect is, exactly. But my mom always encouraged me to be myself, [to see] that it’s important to have integrity, and it’s important to stand up for what you believe in,” she added.
She went on to say, “At the same time, I think it’s also important to know when it’s not your turn. I don’t mean that you should silence yourself. I mean sometimes it’s just not your time. And that’s something I’ve understood more as I’ve matured.”
When asked, Johansson admitted she is unsure whether standing by Allen has cost her professional opportunities or affected her personal connections. She had previously defended her close friendship with the filmmaker in a 2019 interview with THR:
“I love Woody. I believe him, and I would work with him anytime […] 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.
During the height of the #MeToo movement in late 2016, Greta Gerwig issued a statement expressing regret for having worked with Allen on “To Rome With Love.” Other actors who appeared in Allen’s films—including Timothée Chalamet, Elliot Page, Griffin Newman, and David Krumholtz—also voiced similar regrets.
Chalamet, who starred in Allen’s “Rainy Day in New York,” even chose to donate his entire salary from the film. “I have been asked in a few recent interviews about my decision to work on a film with Woody Allen last summer,” Timothée Chalamet said on Instagram. “What I can say is this: I don’t want to profit from my work on the film, and to that end, I am going to donate my entire salary to three charities: TIME’S UP, the LGBT Center in New York and RAINN.”
As noted, Allen has been embroiled in controversy for years due to allegations from Dylan Farrow, the daughter of his former partner Mia Farrow, who claims Allen abused her in the early ’90s when she was seven.
Johansson’s outspoken criticism of what she sees as the harsh and unforgiving treatment of Allen stands as a significant show of support for someone she believes has been unfairly condemned by a public unwilling to revisit the facts. In recent years, several other actors have also come to Allen’s defense, including Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Diane Keaton, Michael Caine, Anjelica Huston, Alec Baldwin, and Jeff Goldblum.
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