Susan Sarandon Slams Woody Allen at Cannes, But Is She Hypocritical?

Susan Sarandon opens up on Woody Allen's

child sex abuse claims

Sydney Morning Herald

Susan Sarandon has slammed Woody Allen at the Cannes Film Festival where allegations of sexual assault have been renewed against the director. Photo: Getty Images

Susan Sarandon rules the Cannes Film Festival red carpet,

but Woody Allen comes under fire

Susan Sarandon has opened up about Woody Allen at the Cannes Film Festival where allegations of sexual assault have been renewed against the director.

Speaking at a Woman in Motion talk on Sunday, Sarandon said of Allen: "I think he sexually assaulted a child and I don't think that's right."


Cafe Society star Blake Lively defended Woody Allen. Also pictured Corey Stoll, Kristen Steward, Jesse Eisenberg and Cannes Film Festival president Pierre Lescure at the Cafe Society premiere. Photo: Anadolu Agency

Sarandon, who was speaking alongside her former Thelma and Louise co-star Geena Davis, declined to comment further on the subject.

That's probably a good thing as Sarandon doesn't exactly hold the moral high ground on this issue. In 1978, Susan starred in a movie called Pretty Baby with Brooke Shields. Shields was 12 years old, played a prostitute, and was shown nude. That could arguably have done more to promote pedophilia than anything Allen has done. Not that I'm defending the 'creep of the century', but maybe Susan should apologize for her involvement in Pretty Baby before criticizing others.

Allen's daughter, Dylan, with his ex-partner Mia Farrow, has accused the director of molesting her when she was seven. Allen has denied the claims.

Allen's Cafe Society, starring Blake Lively, Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, opened the festival on Wednesday.


Allen's estranged son Ronan Farrow published a scathing op-ed before the Cannes premiere. Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo

While Sarandon didn't hold back on her feelings towards the New York-born filmmaker, 80, his star actress Lively had a completely different stance.

"It's amazing what Woody has written for women," she said, adding that the accusations of child molestation against him did not influence her decision to work with him.

"It's very dangerous to factor in things you don't know anything about. I could [only] know my experience. And my experience with Woody is he's empowering to women."

Unless that woman's name is Dylan Farrow.


Dylan Farrow with mother Mia

The director arrived at the opener with his wife and former step-daughter Soon Yi on his arm, and appeared unperturbed despite a scathing op-ed published just hours before the premiere by his estranged son, Ronan Farrow.

"Tonight, the Cannes Film Festival kicks off with a new Woody Allen film," Farrow wrote.

"There will be press conferences and a red-carpet walk by my father and his wife (my sister). He'll have his stars at his side — Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively, Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg. They can trust that the press won't ask them the tough questions. It's not the time, it's not the place, it's just not done.

"That kind of silence isn't just wrong. It's dangerous. It sends a message to victims that it's not worth the anguish of coming forward. It sends a message about who we are as a society, what we'll overlook, who we'll ignore, who matters and who doesn't."

- AP and Fairfax Media