Filmmaker Spike Lee has publicly apologized after defending controversial Hollywood figure and alleged sexual abuser, Woody Allen.
After receiving backlash online for his support of Allen, Lee took to Twitter yesterday (June 13) to walk back the original comments in defence of his "friend."
"I deeply apologize. My words were wrong. I do not and will not tolerate sexual harassment, assault or violence. Such treatment causes real damage that can't be minimized," Lee wrote in a tweet.
Lee's apology follows his appearance on New York radio show WOR's In the Morning on Friday (June 12), where he defended Allen against "cancel culture" and erasure from the public eye.
"I'd just like to say Woody Allen is a great, great filmmaker and this cancel thing is not just Woody," Lee said on air. "And I think when we look back on it we are going to see that — short of killing somebody — I don't know that you can just erase somebody like they never existed. He's a friend of mine and I know he's going through it right now."
The director's appearance on the radio show follows the release of his latest film, Da 5 Bloods.
Earlier this year, Larry David also showed his support of the disgraced director after reading his once-cancelled controversial memoir, Apropos of Nothing. At the time, David told the New York Times that "it's hard to walk away after reading that book thinking that this guy did anything wrong."
See Lee's apology below.
After receiving backlash online for his support of Allen, Lee took to Twitter yesterday (June 13) to walk back the original comments in defence of his "friend."
"I deeply apologize. My words were wrong. I do not and will not tolerate sexual harassment, assault or violence. Such treatment causes real damage that can't be minimized," Lee wrote in a tweet.
Lee's apology follows his appearance on New York radio show WOR's In the Morning on Friday (June 12), where he defended Allen against "cancel culture" and erasure from the public eye.
"I'd just like to say Woody Allen is a great, great filmmaker and this cancel thing is not just Woody," Lee said on air. "And I think when we look back on it we are going to see that — short of killing somebody — I don't know that you can just erase somebody like they never existed. He's a friend of mine and I know he's going through it right now."
The director's appearance on the radio show follows the release of his latest film, Da 5 Bloods.
Earlier this year, Larry David also showed his support of the disgraced director after reading his once-cancelled controversial memoir, Apropos of Nothing. At the time, David told the New York Times that "it's hard to walk away after reading that book thinking that this guy did anything wrong."
See Lee's apology below.
I Deeply Apologize. My Words Were WRONG. I Do Not And Will Not Tolerate Sexual Harassment, Assault Or Violence. Such Treatment Causes Real Damage That Can't Be Minimized.-Truly, Spike Lee.
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLeeJoint) June 13, 2020