Greta Gerwig says she regrets working with Woody Allen

Greta Gerwig’s Golden Globes win for Lady Bird was a great victory, particularly in an industry that’s dominated by men and going through serious change to spark equality. Gerwig was, however, rightfully probed about her past work with Woody Allen, who has for years faced claims of sexual abuse and assault.

Gerwig has asserted that if she knew about allegations against Woody Allen, she would not have taken her part in his 2012 film To Rome With Love.

“It is something that I take very seriously and have been thinking deeply about, and it has taken me time to gather my thoughts and say what I mean to say,” she told the New York Times following the awards. “I can only speak for myself and what I’ve come to is this: If I had known then what I know now, I would not have acted in the film.”

“I have not worked for him again, and I will not work for him again.”

The director pointed to Dylan Farrow’s NYT open letter, in which she detailed abuse she had suffered by her stepfather as a child, as a moment she realised she “increased another woman’s pain.”

“I was heartbroken by that realisation,” Gerwig said. “I grew up on his movies, and they have informed me as an artist, and I cannot change that fact now, but I can make different decisions moving forward.”

This comes after Gerwig was criticised for skirting around the issue when asked directly about working with Allen previously. “It’s something that I’ve thought deeply about, and I haven't had an opportunity to have an in-depth discussion where I come down on one side or the other,” she said at the time. 

Dylan has responded to Gerwig’s latest comments. Writing on Twitter she said: “Greta, thank you for your voice. Thank you for your words. Please know they are deeply felt and appreciated.” 

Dylan Farrow and her brother Ronan have been vocally criticising Allen for years. Ronan was one of the journalists to break the Harvey Weinstein story of abuse, and Dylan has been a passionate advocate for survivors. She recently shared her thoughts on the Time’s Up movement on Twitter.

“Is time really up now? Is this really the turning point? I have no doubt it can be. I have no doubt the time is right. But in order for things to meaningfully change, they need to change unequivocally,” Farrow wrote.

“No predator should be spared by virtue of their ‘talent’ or ‘creativity’ or ‘genius’. No rock should be left unturned. The principles of the movement need to be applied consistently and without exemption.”