Amazon Studios is defending its decision to cut ties with Woody Allen in response to his$68 million breach of contract lawsuit.
Amazon and Allen signed a four-film agreement in August 2017, just months before Allen’s son Ronan Farrow published an article in theNew Yorkerexposing allegations of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein.
In legal documents filed Wednesday in New York, Amazon cites that article as a “catalyst for a broad public reckoning” regarding the tolerance of sexual harassment in Hollywood.
RELATED VIDEO: Soon-Yi Previn Calls Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Husband Woody Allen ‘Unjust’
The documents specifically cite a set of quotes from Allen in which theAnnie Halldirector said hesympathized with both Weinstein and his victims, and felt “very sad for everybody involved.”
“You don’t want it to lead to a witch-hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly have to call a lawyer to defend himself,” Allen added in the interview with the BBC.
Woody Allen.Gabriel Grams/Getty
Those quotes, in addition to a January 2018 statement in which Allen dismissed Dylan Farrow’s accusations of abuse as “’cynically using’ #MeToo for attention,” emerged just as the studio was getting ready to promote the filmWonder Wheel, “effectively sabotaging those efforts,” the documents claim.
According to Amazon, those statements made it clear that they would not be receiving their due in regards to their deal with Allen.
“Understood in the broader context, Allen’s actions and their cascading consequences ensured that Amazon could never possibly receive the benefit of its four-picture agreement (despite already having paid Allen a $10 million advance upon signing),” the documents claim. “As a result, Amazon was justified in terminating its relationship with Allen.”
The director sued Amazon in February for $68 million, claiming the company decided to back out of the four-movie deal because of the previous allegations against Allen from daughter Dylan Farrow.
Allen — who has repeatedly denied Farrow’s accusations — alleged in the lawsuit that Amazon already knew about the claims when the agreement was made.
source: people.com
