Take Note, Hollywood – Diane Keaton Supports Woody Allen Without Attacking The Victim
I’m sure you’ve all been waiting with bated breath for this moment to come – Diane Keaton has finally let the world know her thoughts on the Woody Allen sex-abuse scandal. Because who wouldn’t want to know the opinion of a third party, friend-of-the-accused actress who wasn’t there when the alleged abuse occurred? According to Keaton’s profile in The Guardian this Friday, she doesn’t believe Dylan Farrow‘s accusation against Allen, because she “believes her friend.” I might disagree with her, but considering some of the awful, victim-blaming statement I’ve read about the subject, I think Keaton’s support was subtle and benign.
In case you need a refresher, Farrow caused a stir back in February when she penned an open letter to Hollywood about her father and his alleged abuse. In it she mentions numerous Tinsel Town luminaries, including Keaton:
”What if it had been your child, Cate Blanchett? Louis CK? Alec Baldwin? What if it had been you, Emma Stone? Or you, Scarlett Johansson? You knew me when I was a little girl, Diane Keaton. Have you forgotten me?”
Since February, various members of the Hollywood elite have made their opinions known about the matter, including a few named specifically in the letter. Others have stayed quiet, but through their actions their distaste for the subject is palatable. But this is the first time Keaton, Allen’s long time friend and star of some of his most famous films, has spoken out. According to The Guardian:
“He’s the strongest person I’ve met in my life,” she adds. “He’s made of steel. Later, Keaton says, of the allegations, “I believe my friend.”
Listen, as a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I know how hard it is to hear anyone supporting a man accused of such heinous acts. But abusers will always have supporters, and as supporters go, there are a lot worse folks than Diane Keaton (I’m looking at you, ScarJo and Robert Weide). While Keaton is supportive of her friend, she in no way attacks Dylan or attempts to delve into the details of the case, unlike other Allen co-stars, which is why I’m hesitant to judge Keaton as harshly as I have his other supporters.
In the eyes of the law Woody Allen is innocent and he has never been convicted of any crime involving Dylan Farrow or sexual molestation (though those who claim there is no evidence are sorely mistaken). Does that mean he actually is innocent. Of course not. But until the case if proven one way or another (which may unfortunately never happen) I wish that people who do choose to support Allen would take a page from Keaton’s book and leave the damn victim out of it.
(Photo: Getty Images)
