Scarlett Johansson ruffled more than a few feathers this summer when she voiced support for Woody Allen, saying, "I love Woody. I believe him, and I would work with him any time." Now, she's attempted to clarify those comments.
In a newly published Vanity Fair interview, Johansson addressed her previous comments about the controversial director, who has been essentially blacklisted following resurfaced allegations that he sexually abused his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow when she was a child.
Directly addressing those claims, Johansson echoed to Vanity Fair, "He maintains his innocence and I believe him."
She went on to say: "I'm not a politician, and I can't lie about the way I feel about things. I don't have that. It's just not a part of my personality. I don't want to have to edit myself, or temper what I think or say. I can't live that way. It's just not me. And also I think that when you have that kind of integrity, it's going to probably rub people, some people, the wrong way. And that's kind of par for the course, I guess."
She added: "Even though there's moments where I feel maybe more vulnerable because I've spoken my own opinion about something, my own truth and experience about it — and I know that it might be picked apart in some way, people might have a visceral reaction to it — I think it's dangerous to temper how you represent yourself, because you're afraid of that kind of response. That, to me, doesn't seem very progressive at all. That seems scary."
When Johansson first made her defensive comments to The Hollywood Reporter back in early September, she was hit with a wave of online criticism. Of course, the actress noticed the effect her comments had.
"I don't know — I feel the way I feel about it," Johansson told Vanity Fair. "It's my experience. I don't know any more than any other person knows. I only have a close proximity with Woody… he's a friend of mine. But I have no other insight other than my relationship with him."
The interviewer then attempted to dig deeper, asking the actress if she thought her Allen comments would be triggering for some people.
"Yeah, I do understand how that is triggering for some people. But just because I believe my friend does not mean that I don't support women, believe women. I think you have to take it on a case-by-case basis. You can't have this blanket statement — I don't believe that. But that's my personal belief. That's how I feel."
Johansson has worked with Allen in the films Match Point, Scoop and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She's also said she would work with him again if the opportunity ever arose.
You can read the entire Vanity Fair piece here.
In a newly published Vanity Fair interview, Johansson addressed her previous comments about the controversial director, who has been essentially blacklisted following resurfaced allegations that he sexually abused his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow when she was a child.
Directly addressing those claims, Johansson echoed to Vanity Fair, "He maintains his innocence and I believe him."
She went on to say: "I'm not a politician, and I can't lie about the way I feel about things. I don't have that. It's just not a part of my personality. I don't want to have to edit myself, or temper what I think or say. I can't live that way. It's just not me. And also I think that when you have that kind of integrity, it's going to probably rub people, some people, the wrong way. And that's kind of par for the course, I guess."
She added: "Even though there's moments where I feel maybe more vulnerable because I've spoken my own opinion about something, my own truth and experience about it — and I know that it might be picked apart in some way, people might have a visceral reaction to it — I think it's dangerous to temper how you represent yourself, because you're afraid of that kind of response. That, to me, doesn't seem very progressive at all. That seems scary."
When Johansson first made her defensive comments to The Hollywood Reporter back in early September, she was hit with a wave of online criticism. Of course, the actress noticed the effect her comments had.
"I don't know — I feel the way I feel about it," Johansson told Vanity Fair. "It's my experience. I don't know any more than any other person knows. I only have a close proximity with Woody… he's a friend of mine. But I have no other insight other than my relationship with him."
The interviewer then attempted to dig deeper, asking the actress if she thought her Allen comments would be triggering for some people.
"Yeah, I do understand how that is triggering for some people. But just because I believe my friend does not mean that I don't support women, believe women. I think you have to take it on a case-by-case basis. You can't have this blanket statement — I don't believe that. But that's my personal belief. That's how I feel."
Johansson has worked with Allen in the films Match Point, Scoop and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She's also said she would work with him again if the opportunity ever arose.
You can read the entire Vanity Fair piece here.
