Penelope Cruz on Woody Allen: ‘The case has to be looked at again’

Penelope Cruz and Woody Allen

Penelope Cruz won her sole Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a film written and directed by Woody Allen. I haven’t seen the film in years and years, but I remember thinking that Cruz was very good in it and that she deserved the Oscar. Both Penelope and her husband, Javier Bardem, were in the film and they both got along very well with Woody, apparently. Javier said some sh-t about Woody back in April – he said he would still work with Woody, if asked, and that: “If there was evidence that Woody Allen was guilty, then yes, I would have stopped working with him, but I have doubts,” and then he went on to claim that Woody was “found innocent” of molesting Dylan Farrow, which is false. So what does Penelope have to say? Well, she’s a bit more reticent to go all ride-or-die for Woody.

Penélope Cruz is speaking out about the decades-old sexual abuse allegations against Woody Allen.

“The only answer that I can give you with common sense that is not about a headline is, the case has to be looked at again,” Cruz told Vanity Fair at the 11th annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic at New Jersey’s Liberty State Park on Saturday. “The important thing is, if there is a case anywhere in the world that isn’t clear, then why not look at it again? I am in favor of that.”

Cruz said that she wouldn’t make a decision about working with Allen again until she has more information.

“We have a collection of headlines saying this actor would work with him again, and this one said they wouldn’t — this doesn’t change anything,” she explained. “This doesn’t add anything good to the situation. We’re supposed to believe in justice, and this was looked at years ago, and it’s not clear. It should be looked at again, and then I can give an answer,” Cruz continued.

[From People]

This is more like a version that Cate Blanchett was peddling, and it’s become the go-to explanation for people who don’t want to “cancel” fellow artists who have been accused of doing terrible things. Even then, when it comes to people who have actually been through the legal system and have cut plea deals – Roman Polanski, Mel Gibson – people still want to work with them. But if you take Penelope’s comments at face value, I actually don’t have a problem with what she’s saying, that these accusations and cases need to be investigated and reviewed and prosecuted. The problem is that in so many of these situations, the statute of limitations has run out. So what then? I guess Penelope will still take Woody’s calls after all (just kidding, he doesn’t want to work with her now, she’s much too old for him).

Here are some pics of Penelope at the 11th Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic over the weekend. She looked like Sophia Loren to me.

Veuve Clicquot celebrates the 11th Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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19 Responses to “Penelope Cruz on Woody Allen: ‘The case has to be looked at again’”

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  1. Red32 says:

    He. Married. His. Daughter’s. Sister. That is a matter of public record, and he’s damn proud of it. Why do people tap dance so hard to give him credibility against Dylan’s story? He admits sleeping with Soon-Yi while he was in an adult position of authority over her, why is it so hard to believe he molested Dylan?

    • NoShame says:

      Because there are lots of people who think there’s a big difference between a 7 year old and a 17 year old, whether they’re in the same family or not.

      Plus the whole, he’s an ARTISTE thing!! Those artistes stick together.

      I believe Dylan, but I also think that entire family is totally fucked up because Mia and Woody are total whack jobs. There is so much tragedy with that family it’s sickening. Deaths, suicides, not really knowing if your father is Frank Sinatra or not, the molestations, dating your daughter.

      Jesus, these kids would have been so much better off if they’d never been near an artiste.

      • Otaku fairy says:

        Plus there’s some blurriness about Soon-Yi ‘s actual age. Some articles have her at 19 at the time, while others say she was 17. Personally though, even if she had been 30, the fact that Woody Allen had practically been her stepfather is enough to make it inappropriate to me. With Dylan’s abuse out there, it seems naive to believe that he waited until Soom-Yi was 18 before sexualizing or grooming her in any way, but some people actually believe that. Plus, didn’t he take nude photos of her when she was definitely underage?

    • drolf says:

      Because he is creepy and narcissistic does not mean he is guilty of child molestation. When people say because he did one thing he must have done the other it destroys their argument for me at least. I think there is evidence that he was inappropriate with Dylan but no absolute proof of anything more. And Mia herself showed up to work with him after she found the nude photographs of Soon Yi, so it is a bit hypocritical to say no one should work with him. Some people are not convinced that they can be certain of what happened. I do not know exactly what happened and no one but the two people involved do, and unfortunately Dylan’s testimony as a child was inconsistent. As an adult she has not faltered in her accusations, but there is a shadow of a doubt for me. That does not mean I support him and in no way do I defend his behavior with Soon Yi, but to be accurate he was never a father figure or step father to Soon Yi when she was a child. Their relationship started at Mia’s request when she was an adult because Mia had trouble bonding with her.

  2. Eleonor says:

    I believe Dylan.
    That’s all I have to say.

  3. Rhys says:

    Moses Farrow, one of Mia’s many adopted children has a very interesting blog piece about this mess.

  4. enike says:

    I am sorry to say, but I dont entirely believe Dylan. I believe that she was somewhat inluenced and manipulated by Mia, who is a well-know crazy.

    I think some of the adopted children said that she didnt treat too well them… Soon Yi and Moses said this several times…. some even think she emotionally abused them… so, we dont really know what went on

    • Jenn says:

      I don’t thinkFarrow was a Great Mom. She’s been cold toward Soon Yi. I’ve always been uncomfortable with how she spoke about Soon Yi and it doesn’t surprise me that she’s estranged from some of her kids. But I still believe Dylan. I hate this not believing kids stuff when WA has such a recorded, consistent shadiness toward young girls.

  5. AS says:

    I appreciate Penelope’s point that because he case was never actually litigated in court we don’t have a legal answer. But the bigger issue is whether a decision wouldn’t even hold water since the courts have routinely failed to protect women and children by upholding outdated rules and procedures that favor protecting abusers (like the hearsay rule, statutes of limitation etc). If nothing else comes of the MeToo movement I hope it forces us to re-examine our system of justice because it works to discredit, penalize and terrorize those who already allege they are victims or who we know are victims. For example, most of the rape victims of the Golden State Killer will never see him charged for their rapes because the statute of limitations has expired. For far too long we have failed to litigate cases properly and protect victims. And abusers will point to the lack of a conviction or case to provide cover. Until the court system starts applying justice in a less biased manner we will be litigating these cases on social media. It is what it is. If Woody didn’t have a documented inappropriate relationship with Dylan perhaps people wouldn’t have doubts. I don’t know what happened in that attic or whether Dylan was manipulated into lying. I do know that he was caught with his head in her crotch when she was two years old and that nannies were told never to leave him alone with Dylan. So on that basis alone do I feel sorry for him? No I do not. I just wish the court system would have helped her and not traumatized her further. Doesn’t seem like that much to ask.

    • Lizabeth says:

      @AS I have never ever read WA was accused of having his head in Dylan’s crotch when she was 2. (I have read a nanny reported that happening when Dylan was 7. I believe the nanny later retracted her story.) Link for it happening at age 2? Also if Mia warned the nanny/nannies not to leave Dylan alone with Allen after age 2, why in the world did Mia continue having a relationship with Allen? Why was Mia photographed with Allen holding Dylan after that? I know Mia and Allen never lived together but why would she leave Dylan and her other children alone with him and the nannies? The attic crawl space abuse reportedly occurred when Dylan was 7. And Allen didn’t adopt Dylan until she was 5-6. Why would Mia have agreed to the adoption? Are we to believe Mia was comfortable staying involved with Allen, presumably having a sexual relationship with him for 5 yrs while she thought he was only kept from abusing their daughter by the presence of a watchful nanny? Doesn’t ring true to me.

      • AS says:

        By all accounts this family is very dysfunctional. Seems like you know a lot more about it than I do. I don’t have a link to that, but I am pretty sure he was caught with his face in her crotch when she was just a toddler. It sticks out in my mind because when I read it I had a two-year-old at the time and I thought what in the hell. My entire point was that the court system completely failed us and now we are sitting here litigating it in the court of public opinion. I don’t know why Mia would’ve stayed with him. This is very personal, but my own grandmother stayed with her second husband even after he raped three of her children. I’m not here to speculate on what Mia was thinking or what my grandmother was thinking either. And charges were never brought so here we are.

  6. Loki99 says:

    If you read the court docs, which are available online, you will not even be able to look at Woody again. Very disturbing

    • AS says:

      I wish I had the strength to do it but I couldn’t even get past reading a few old news articles on his behavior. I hate to say it but I will take your word that the documents are terrifying and horrible. I have three young daughters under the age of six and I’m so glad that metoo is happening but it also haunts me. I’m terrified that I will somehow fail to protect them. I’ve even started teaching them to yell ‘stop dude’ at the playground when boys are too rough and to start practicing how to say no rather than be polite. I’m teaching them that they decide their own boundaries and to speak up if anyone crosses the line. A 3 year old and a 5 year old. And I do not at all think that is overkill. I teach them consent just as I teach them eating veggies is good for your body. But until our courts and institutions protect victims I owe it to them to teach them survival skills. In the meantime I feel terribly for Dylan. She probably can’t prosecute any more due to the statute of limitations but at least we can force him to go away? That’s just not enough and it is honestly heartbreaking stuff, isn’t it?

  7. AS says:

    Also, I don’t think I was clear enough in my first comment. But I don’t even need to get to the incident in the attic to cancel that mofo. His behavior even before that was criminal. But for Dylan’s sake, I really wish the court system had done anything for her. It seems that it just caused more harm than good. And that is just so very sad.

  8. Kristen says:

    I believe Dylan. Period.

    • AS says:

      I do too. Until our institutions and courts give victims a voice – instead of depriving them of one-you’re right that it’s the only appropriate response. Thanks for reminding me of that.

  9. CharlotteCharlotte says:

    The man loves Almodovar movies. We started watching one last year which only had cameos from Penélope and Antonio, since it was made after they’d been embraced fully by Hollywood. An unconscious man is raped by a virgin woman. It is played as acceptable and sexy, since she is exploring her sexuality. I was outraged, and told the man I’m done with Almodovar. We shouldn’t need a f-ing movement to realise things are wrong. Rape. Molestation. Police brutality. Racism. Grooming and marrying a young woman you were a father figure to.
    No passes.

  10. ... nik. says:

    People are so blind.