Scarlett Johansson attacked by Woody Allen’s daughter for defending director over sex abuse claims

Woody Allen’s adopted daughter Dylan Farrow has criticised Scarlett Johansson after the actress defended the director over child sex abuse allegations.

Johansson, who has starred in three Woody Allen films, said “I believe him” and insisted she would work with him “anytime”.

Allen’s now grown-up daughter Dylan Farrow, who has accused Allen of molesting her when she was aged seven, hit out at Johansson on Twitter.

Farrow, 34, whose mother Mia was in a relationship with Allen until 1992, responded to a tweet from the Los Angeles Times about Johansson’s recent comments to the Hollywood Reporter.

She wrote: “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.”

Child sexual abuse allegations by Farrow against the filmmaker have been re-examined since the emergence of the MeToo movement.

Allen has long denied the claims but much of Hollywood has distanced itself from him.

Timothee Chalamet and Greta Gerwig are among the actors who have publicly expressed regret over working with him.

And Allen has been unable to find a US distributor for his movies since Amazon cancelled his deal in 2018.

But Johansson, who was directed by him in Match Point (2005), Scoop (2006) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), says she is standing by Allen who played a key role in shaping her career as one of Hollywood’s leading ladies.

She said she has spoken to Allen about the accusations and he maintains his innocence. He has never been criminally charged.

Johansson, who is active in women’s issues and was among early supporters of Time’s Up, told the Hollywood Reporter: “How do I feel about Woody Allen? I love Woody.

“I believe him, and I would work with him anytime.”

She continued: “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.”

Asked if this position feels difficult to express at a time where there is a new emphasis on believing women’s allegations, Johansson replied: “It’s hard because it’s a time where people are very fired up, and understandably.

“Things needed to be stirred up, and so people have a lot of passion and a lot of strong feelings and are angry, and rightfully so. It’s an intense time.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Scarlett Johansson attacked by Woody Allen’s daughter for defending director over sex abuse claims