Scarlett Johansson is doubling down on her long-standing support for Woody Allen.
The actress, one of the few major Hollywood names who has openly defended Allen, addressed the controversy in a new interview with The Daily Telegraph, reflecting on whether her loyalty to the director has affected her career or personal life.
‘It’s hard to know,’ Johansson admitted. ‘You never know what the domino effect is, exactly. But my mom always encouraged me to be myself, [to see] that it’s important to have integrity, and stand up for what you believe in.’
Johansson, who worked with Allen on Match Point (2005), Scoop (2006) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), has publicly defended him in the years since allegations against him resurfaced during the #MeToo movement.
Back in 2019, she told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I love Woody. I believe him, and I would work with him anytime. I see Woody whenever I can, and I have had a lot of conversations with him about it.’
She continued: ‘I have been very direct with him, and he’s very direct with me. He maintains his innocence, and I believe him.’
Scarlett Johansson is doubling down on her long-standing support for Woody Allen (seen in 2025)
In her latest interview, Johansson noted that while she still stands by Allen, she also believes there are moments when being outspoken is not the right move.Â
‘I think it’s also important to know when it’s not your turn,’ she explained. ‘I don’t mean you should silence yourself. I mean sometimes it’s just not your time. And that’s something I’ve understood more as I’ve matured.’Â
Allen has long denied accusations that he sexually abused his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow – claims first raised in 1992 and brought back into the spotlight amid the industry’s reckoning with sexual misconduct.Â
New York authorities investigated the allegations at the time, and a 1993 court ruling stated that the allegation had not been proven.
Dylan, however, continues to stand by her account.Â
In 2014, she penned an explosive open letter in The New York Times restating the allegations and criticizing Hollywood for continuing to embrace the director.
The scandal was further heightened in the 1990s by news of Allen’s controversial relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, another of Mia Farrow’s adopted children, who was 21 when their relationship began. Allen was 56.
The actress addressed the controversy in a new interview with The Daily Telegraph, reflecting on whether her loyalty to the director has affected her career or personal life; pictured in 2007
Johansson worked with Allen three times for Match Point (pictured above in 2005), Scoop (2006) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Allen’s controversial relationship with Soon-Yi Previn (seen in 2008), another of Mia Farrow’s adopted children, who was 21, has also been widely criticized
Despite the highly publicized turmoil, Allen continued to enjoy decades of critical and commercial success.Â
But in the post-MeToo era, his reputation has become increasingly polarizing.Â
A number of actors, including Elliot Page, Greta Gerwig and Natalie Portman, have since expressed regret for working with him.
Still, Johansson maintains that speaking out in support of Allen does not conflict with her advocacy for women.Â
She has been an outspoken supporter of Time’s Up, the anti-harassment initiative launched in 2018.
While reflecting on those early conversations within the movement, she said: ‘It was almost like you found something you didn’t even realize you needed. It was when I first understood what the word “triggering” actually meant.’
‘Now it’s part of the zeitgeist, but it was like, “Oh. Oh, the thing I’m feeling. That’s what triggering means.” I didn’t know. Suddenly, you didn’t have to take it anymore.’
