More often than not, some of Woody Allen’s most prominent past collaborators have shied away from discussing the 89-year-old filmmaker’s controversial private life. But in a recent interview, Sean Penn has made his thoughts about the various allegations against the Oscar-winning director incredibly clear.
With his recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, the 64-year-old Academy Award winner reflected on his previous collaboration with Allen on 1999’s Sweet and Lowdown — a film that helped secure Penn an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
“I love that movie,” Penn said of the film. Going further, Penn also said he’d be willing to collaborate with Allen on another film if the project caught his interest, with Penn stating, “I’d work with him in a heartbeat if it was the right thing.”
Penn also provided his candid thoughts on the controversies revolving around Allen, including former partner Mia Farrow’s claims that Allen had sexually abused their adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow.
“I don’t know anyone well enough to say 100% this didn’t happen or that didn’t happen or something,” Penn said of the accusations. “God forbid you’re wrong and there is a victim involved, right? I haven’t read everything, but the stories are mostly told by people who I would not trust with a dime. It seems so heavily weighted in that way.”
Allen — who has never been charged or prosecuted in connection to the accusations — has denied ever mistreating his adopted daughter since Farrow’s claims came to light in 1992. Defending the Annie Hall director, Penn specifically cited the lack of legal prosecution against Allen as the reason for his support of the director.
“I just think that whatever is the worst of people’s suspicions about him, just check them with the facts separate from the [#MeToo] movement and all those who benefited from that,” the Mystic River actor said. “Let’s just take a second is all I’m saying. I see he is not proven guilty, so I take him as innocent. I would work with him in a heartbeat.”
