Sean Penn came to Woody Allen's defense during a recent interview on"The Louis Theroux Podcast."Allen directed Penn in 1999's "Sweet and Lowdown," for which the latter earned an Oscar nomination for best actor. Penn starred as a jazz guitarist who falls in love with a mute woman, played by Samantha Morton. "I love that movie. I'd work with him in a heartbeat if it was the right thing," Penn said about Allen, who has been accused of sexual abuse by his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. More from Variety Sean Penn Says Donald Trump 'Might Try to Destroy the World' Maxine Peake on Playing Murdered Russian Reporter Anna Politkovskaya in 'Words of War' and the Film's 'Horrific' Relevance: '2024 Was the Most Dangerous Year to Be a Journalist' Sean Penn-Produced Political Thriller 'Words of War' Sells Globally, Including to Signature for U.K. (EXCLUSIVE) "Do I think he has a bad rep?" Penn then asked, referring to the allegations against Allen. "Look, with these things… I don't know anyone well enough to say 100% this didn't happen or that didn't happen or something. God forbid you're wrong and there is a victim involved, right? I haven't read everything, but the stories are mostly told by people who I would not trust with a dime. It seems so heavily weighted in that way." When podcast host Louis Theroux noted the allegations against Allen come from his adopted children, including "journalist" Ronan Farrow, Penn defended Allen by saying: "I am not aware of any clinical psychologist or psychiatrist or anyone I ever heard talk about the subject of pedophilia that in 80 years of life it only happens once. I am not aware of that." "When people try to associate his much younger girlfriends, right or wrong is not the conversation here," Penn continued. "Post-puberty consensual stuff is a different conversation." "I just think that whatever is the worst of people's suspicions about him, just check them with the facts separate from the [#MeToo] movement and all those who benefited from that," the Oscar winner concluded. "Let's just take a second is all I'm saying. I see he is not proven guilty, so I take him as innocent. I would work with him in a heartbeat." Allen has not worked in Hollywood since Dylan Farrow's abuse allegations against him resurfaced in 2018. Listen to Penn's full interview on"The Louis Theroux Podcast" here. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.
