Susan Sarandon Slams Woody Allen: 'I Think He Sexually Assaulted A Child'
Susan Sarandon launched a scathing attack on Woody Allen over claims of child abuse.
During a panel discussion about women’s issue in the movie business at the Cannes Film Festival, the outspoken actress repeated the allegations that have been levelled at the director, saying that he had ‘sexually assaulted a child and I don’t think that is right’.
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She referred to the claims that he abused his daughter Dylan Farrow, claims that Allen has always denied and were a matter a lengthy police investigation in the 1990s.
No charges were ever brought against him.
“I have nothing good to say about Woody Allen, so I don’t think we should go there,” added Sarandon.
The controversy around Allen’s appearance at the festival, where he’s presented his new movie 'Cafe Society’, began at the opening ceremony, when French comedian Laurent Lafitte appeared to make a joke at the expense of Allen and director Roman Polanski.
“You’ve shot so many of your films here in Europe, and yet in the U.S. you haven’t even been convicted of rape,” he said.
He later apologised, adding that he had not meant to hurt anyone with the gag.
“It was [meant] as a joke about American puritanism and the fact that it is surprising that an American director wants to do so many movies in Europe. I didn’t know about the other stuff,” he said.
He was referring to recent, reiterated claims in The Hollywood Reporter last week by Allen’s son Ronan Farrow in which he questioned how actors could still work with his father in light of the claims.
“I didn’t want to hurt anybody. If I had known [the Woody Allen joke] could be misinterpreted, I wouldn’t have said it,” Lafitte added.
Allen went on to defend Lafitte’s right to say whatever he wants.
“I am completely in favour of comedians making any jokes they want,” Allen said to a question asked by Variety.
“I am a non-judgmental or [non]-censorship person on jokes. I’m a comic myself and I feel they should be free to make whatever jokes they want.
“It would take a lot to offend me.”
Image credits: Getty/AP