For the most part, everyone in Hollywood can agree that Harvey Weinstein isn’t the greatest guy. Even though there are some European folks that don’t understand what’s wrong with the former industry mogul, by and large, most in Hollywood don’t want to work with him ever again. The same can’t be said about Woody Allen. The legendary filmmaker has had a sexual assault controversy that has followed him for decades. And recently, the situation was brought to light, yet again, leading many of his collaborators to write him off. But not everyone.
Actor Javier Bardem, who worked with Allen on the 2008 film “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” has recently opened up about the director. According to an interview via the French outlet Paris Match (via People), Bardem says he’s “absolutely not” ashamed about working with Allen.
Woody Allen is famously accused of sexual abuse against his adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow. Farrow has been recently in the news as she continues to bring up the abuse and publicly calling on Hollywood figures to condemn the filmmaker. Obviously, Allen has gone on record numerous times denying the accusations and defending himself.
“If there was evidence that Woody Allen was guilty, then yes, I would have stopped working with him, but I have doubts,” Bardem explained. “I am very shocked by this sudden treatment. Judgments in the states of New York and Connecticut found him innocent. The legal situation today is the same as in 2007.”
Bardem isn’t the only person to defend the director. Cate Blanchett fell short of condemning the director by citing the legal decisions, as well. Longtime muse of Allen’s, Diane Keaton has also publicly defended the filmmaker. And lastly, actor Alec Baldwin has been very vocal about his support of Woody Allen.
However, Michael Caine has made it clear that, while their experience in the past can’t be changed, the actor refuses to work with Allen again in the future.