The scandal involving prominent film producer Harvey Weinstein and the numerous women he sexually assaulted has been taking the media by storm, as more and more women, from Angelina Jolie to Cara Delevingne to model Zoe Brock among many, share their stories of aggressive or forced sexual interactions with Weinstein. Several other celebrities have reacted to the Weinstein allegations, including none other than filmmaker Woody Allen, who made headlines not too long ago for similar reasons. In the midst of all of the uproar, Allen’s new standards for hypocrisy in his condemnation should not be overlooked.
“The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved. Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that [his] life is so messed up.” Allen said in a recent interview with BBC. “There’s no winners in that, it’s just very, very sad and tragic for those poor women that had to go through that.”
Allen’s clear denunciation on sexual assault did not seem to apply, however, to himself in his personal experiences with his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. In 2014, Dylan published an open letter speaking out about Allen’s acts towards her, the continuous sexual assault beginning when she was seven years old. Although no charges were ever filed, his heinous actions are not forgotten, especially as he has the audacity to sympathize with the victims of Harvey Weinstein’s similar actions.
Woody Allen’s son, Ronan Farrow, interestingly played a key role in the exposure of Weinstein, writing a story for the New Yorker in which he documented several accountings of rape and sexual assault by the film producer. Farrow also was outspoken in defending his sister against Allen, although Allen himself denied the accusations as “untrue” and “disgraceful.”
Unsurprisingly, Allen could not conceal his true nature for long, saying that although he hoped the revelations would lead to “some amelioration,” he claims that, “You also don’t want it to lead to a witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself. That’s not right either.”
It is clear, after dozens of sexual assault allegations, that Weinstein’s situation is no witch hunt, nor should any protection of the sexual offender be idealized. Woody Allen’s ‘sympathy’ towards the women affected by Weinstein is undeniably feigned, as no sympathy was shown for those he, himself, affected in the same way.
It is clear, after dozens of sexual assault allegations, that Weinstein’s situation is no witch hunt, nor should any protection of the sexual offender be idealized. Woody Allen’s ‘sympathy’ towards the women affected by Weinstein is undeniably feigned, as no sympathy was shown for those he, himself, affected in the same way.
