Woody Allen reveals sadness for 'messed up' Harvey Weinstein: Director whose own son revealed sex claims against movie mogul now fears Hollywood 'witch hunt' of 'every guy in an office who winks at a woman'
- Woody Allen has spoken out to defend former collaborator Harvey Weinstein
- He described the situation as 'sad for everybody involved' and said he feels bad for the movie mogul because 'his life is so messed up'
- Allen hopes investigation leads to 'some amelioration' for victims, but worries about a 'witch hunt' against 'every guy in an office who winks at a woman'
- The director was accused of abusing Dylan, the daughter he adopted with then-wife Mia Farrow, while she was seven years old. He vehemently denies this
The director, who worked with Weinstein a number of times, said he was upset 'for everyone involved' and lamented the fact that Weinstein's life 'is so messed up.'
While he hoped the investigation into alleged abuse would provide some respite to victims, he added that he worries about a witch hunt against men.
Woody Allen says he is 'sad' for Harvey Weinstein as he faces dozens of allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Allen's own son, Ronan (right), was instrumental in bringing the claims to light after he interviewed 13 women who said they were abused and harassed
He told BBC Arabic: 'The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved.
'Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that is life is so messed up. There's no winners in that, it's just very, very sad and tragic for those poor women that had to go through that.'He hoped the victims can find 'some amelioration' now the allegations have come to light, but added: '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.'
Weinstein was credited with reviving Allen's career after he was accused of abusing Dylan Farrow, the daughter he adopted with then-wife Mia, when she was seven.
Allen collaborated with Weinstein several times including on 1995 film Mighty Aphrodite (pictured at the premiere)
The claims emerged in 1993 after Farrow split with Allen, having discovered he was having an affair with her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn.
An investigation was launched but later dropped with no charges made against Allen. He has always vehemently denied the claims.
Dylan repeated the claims in a 2014 blog post, and was supported by brother Ronan Farrow who also criticized the media for not questioning Allen more closely.
Ronan was also instrumental in bringing the allegations against Weinstein to light, interviewing 13 women who alleged he had harassed or attacked them.
Allen and Weinstein collaborated several times over the years, including on the Oscar-winning film Mighty Aphrodite.
The star of that film, Mira Sorvino, is just one of the actresses to come forward with claims against Weinstein.
It was during a promotional tour for that film, in 1995, that she alleges Weinstein began massaging her shoulders while they were alone in a hotel room.
Allen said it is 'tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that is life is so messed up.' Pictures is Allen (right) on the set of 1992 film Husbands and Wives with Lysette Anthony (left) who has accused Weinstein of raping her
Allen (pictured at the premier of Wonder Wheel earlier this year) was accused of sexually abuse Dylan Farrow, his adopted daughter with ex-wife Mia Farrow, which she was seven. He was never charged and vehemently denies the allegation
He then became 'more physical', she told the New Yorker, chasing her around before she managed to get away.
'I have lived in vague fear of Harvey Weinstein for over 20 years, ever since those incidents,' she later told Time.
Lysette Anthony, a British actress who once starred in Woody Allen's 1992 film Husbands and Wives, is just the latest star to go public with allegations of sexual abuse by Weinstein.
She claimed the movie mogul 'grabbed' her during a visit to his Chelsea home in the late Eighties after years of friendship in which 'nothing untoward' happened.
After she fled, she claims he began stalking her before knocking at the door of her west London home around 10am.
Ms Anthony said she opened the door in her dressing gown and Weinstein threw her against the coat rack before raping her.
She said: 'As he ground himself against me and shoved inside me, I kept my eyes shut tight, held my breath and just let him get on with it.
'He came over my leg like a dog and then left. It was pathetic, revolting,' she told The Sunday Times. 'I remember lying in the bath, crying.'
Weinstein's lawyers said earlier this week: 'Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein.'
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