Yahoo News Bill Maher “Flat-Out” Believes Woody Allen Amid Allegations; Slams Actors Who Regret Working With Him
Bill Maher is making it known he strongly believes Woody Allen is innocent, years after sexual abuse allegations initially arose against the filmmaker.
During a recent conversation with Katie Couric on his Club Random podcast, the Real Time host defended the filmmaker while discussing creatives who have been canceled in Hollywood.
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“I don’t think he committed that crime,” Maher said, referring to sexual abuse allegations from Allen’s adopted stepdaughter, Dylan Farrow. “There was two police investigations that exonerated him.”
He added, “All these actors who won’t work with him anymore, some of them made movies with him, [are saying,] ‘I regret doing that.’ What a bunch of pussies! First of all, it’s a very improbable crime that they’re accusing him of. Plainly, the other party had motivation and was vindictive.”
While Allen has denied the accusations and was not charged by the Connecticut state’s attorney following a 1993 investigation, his popularity in the U.S. significantly decreased following the #MeToo movement and resurfaced allegations.
Maher also brought up HBO’s documentary Allen v. Farrow, suggesting that it was biased because it was “all from” Mia Farrow’s point of view.
“So first of all, I just flat-out believe him,” he said. “I believe a 57-year-old man didn’t suddenly become a child molester in the middle of a divorce proceeding and a custody battle in a house full of adults in broad daylight.”
However, Couric pushed back against Maher on the podcast, saying there’s “some pretty sketchy and damning” evidence in the doc that supports Dylan Farrow’s claims and “certainly raised some, I think, legitimate questions.” One piece of evidence that Couric noted was Allen “wanting his girlfriend to dress up in little anklets and Mary Janes and baby doll dresses.”
“Do you think he’s the only guy who likes that? Really?” Maher questioned in response. “Do you think he’s the first guy who wanted his girlfriend to dress in anklets and baby doll [dresses]?… That’s what we grew up on, that’s what we find sexy…that doesn’t make you a pervert.”
Both Couric and Maher came to the conclusion that “we definitely don’t know” the truth surrounding the allegations against the Coup de Chance director. But the comedian pointed out that “if you don’t know and you have been exonerated by the law,” then someone shouldn’t be automatically canceled by society. Maher suggested, “The powers that be in the virtual world are just saying, ‘We don’t care. It just feels right that you’re wrong.’”
He added, “I find it very improbable. Do I know [if Allen did it]? No. Is it possible? Anything is possible.”
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