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In its first response to a lawsuit by screenwriter-director Woody Allen, Amazon Studios said Wednesday that Allen's comments rejecting the Me Too move and his denial of sexual abuse allegations justified "his decision to cancel a distribution contract for his most recent films.
"Allen made a series of public comments suggesting that he had not grasped the seriousness of the issues or the implications for his own career," said an Amazon lawyer in a case filed in federal court.
The 83-year-old director repeatedly denied his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow's allegation that he sexually assaulted her in 1992 when she was seven years old. He also criticized the broader Me Too movement.
While promoting his film "Wonder Wheel" in 2017, published shortly after the New York Times and the New Yorker published shady reports on the shady film mogul Harvey Weinstein, catalyzing the Me Too movement, Allen expressed sympathy for Weinstein, saying "sad for Harvey this [his] life is so messed up.
Allen also lamented what he called a "witch-hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every type of office that winks at a woman suddenly needs to call a lawyer for help." defend".
Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images Woody Allen promotes his 2017 film "Wonder Wheel", his latest film released by Amazon Studios.
Farrow granted an interview to "CBS This Morning" in early 2018, renewing the focus on his allegation. Allen attacked her claiming that she was "cynically" using the Me Too movement for her personal gain.
That summer, Amazon Studios ended a contract to release four other Allen films, putting aside his film "A Rainy Day in New York," shot in 2017, as well as three other projects. planned for 2018, 2019. and 2020.
In February, the director sued Amazon for $ 68 million in damages for breach of contract.
Amazon said on Wednesday that it had no choice but to cancel the deal, noting that Allen's comments had generated negative publicity, "effectively sabotaging" the studio's efforts to promote and distribute "Wonder Wheel ".
"Allen's actions and their cascading consequences allowed Amazon to never benefit from the benefits of his four-image contract (when he had already paid Allen a $ 10 million advance at the signing), said Amazon in the folder. "As a result, Amazon was entitled to terminate its relationship with Allen and the plaintiffs will ultimately not recover any of the repairs they seek."
Many of Allen's former collaborators and stars have promised never to work with him, including Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Ellen Page, Greta Gerwig and Mira Sorvino.
Despite allegations of sexual abuse by Farrow – and the fact that Allen acknowledged that he was perceived as an "outcast" in the film industry, the director continues to receive support and funding for his movies. He is currently preparing a new film in Spain this summer.
Need help for? Visit RAINN National online hotline against sexual assault or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center Website.
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