Harvey Weinstein Helped Woody Allen Save His Career After Abuse Allegations

Woody Allen and producer Harvey Weinstein on the red carpet for the L.A. premiere of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in 2008. (Photo: Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
Woody Allen and producer Harvey Weinstein on the red carpet for the L.A. premiere of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in 2008. (Photo: Kevin Winter via Getty Images)

Allegations of sexual misdeeds have haunted Woody Allen for decades, but they don’t seem to have slowed his career. That may be thanks in part to Harvey Weinstein and his prestigious production company, Miramax Films.

On Thursday, Weinstein took a leave of absence from Miramax after The New York Times published an explosive, in-depth chronicling of sexual harassment allegations made by women who have worked with him over the past few decades, including the actress Ashley Judd.

In the early 1990s, Allen faced down his own scandal, revolving around allegations of abuse and scandal over his relationship with his ex-partner’s child. It was then that Miramax offered the filmmaker a deal for the 1994 comedy “Bullets Over Broadway.” In fact, Allen worked with Miramax on several more films throughout the ’90s, including “Mighty Aphrodite.”

Allen’s continued success and acclaim, despite the rumors and accusations that have hovered around him for decades, has never been too surprising. Plenty of industry heavyweights have shaken off such scandals ― and even criminal convictions. But in 1994, Allen’s reputation was in shambles and his career at an impasse. The filmmaker split with longtime partner Mia Farrow in 1992 following the revelation that he’d been having an affair with her daughter Soon-Yi, then in her early 20s. In the midst of the messy separation, allegations emerged that Allen had molested the couple’s young daughter Dylan.

At that point a well-established icon in the film world thanks to films like “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan,” Allen’s brand was suddenly toxic. The director “was shunned by Hollywood’s movie community,” wrote the Los Angeles Times at the time. Weinstein, though, was unperturbed by Allen’s reputation. “Shunned by Hollywood means nothing to Miramax,” Weinstein told the L.A. Times. “We’re talking about a comic genius.”

The scandal has continued to dog Allen in the decades since, especially in recent years. During the 2014 Golden Globes, Farrow tweeted “Time to grab some icecream & switch over to #GIRLS” as her former partner was honored with a lifetime achievement award. Her son Ronan Farrow was more explicit, tweeting, “Missed the Woody Allen tribute ― did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?”

(Ronan Farrow has reportedly been looking into a story on the Weinstein allegations for The New Yorker.)

Several weeks later, Dylan Farrow published an open letter reiterating her allegations in The New York Times. Nonetheless, Allen has continued his prolific output and worked with numerous production and distribution companies in recent years.

Now dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct himself, Weinstein has retained a legal team, including prominent civil rights attorney Lisa Bloom, and released a statement to The New York Times acknowledging the allegations and expressing remorse.

“I want a second chance in the community, but I know I’ve got work to do to earn it,” he wrote.

If you have more information about Harvey Weinstein, send us an email: scoops@huffingtonpost.com.

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Woody Allen, American actor, director and writer. Portrait 1989.
Woody Allen, American actor, director and writer. Portrait 1989.
Left to right: Irish actor Peter O'Toole, French actress Nicole Karen, American actor, writer and comedian Woody Allen and English director Clive Donner in Montparnasse, Paris during filming of 'What's New, Pussycat', 1965. 
Left to right: Irish actor Peter O'Toole, French actress Nicole Karen, American actor, writer and comedian Woody Allen and English director Clive Donner in Montparnasse, Paris during filming of 'What's New, Pussycat', 1965. 
30th July 1971: US film actor and director Woody Allen. 
30th July 1971: US film actor and director Woody Allen. 
Woody Allen and Candice Bergen on 'The Woody Allen Special', September 9, 1969. 
Woody Allen and Candice Bergen on 'The Woody Allen Special', September 9, 1969. 
Photo of Woody Allen, 1970.
Photo of Woody Allen, 1970.
Woody Allen poses for a portrait circa 1960 in New York City, New York. 
Woody Allen poses for a portrait circa 1960 in New York City, New York. 
Woody Allen with his arms resting on a typewriter in a scene from the film 'Play It Again, Sam', 1972. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)
Woody Allen with his arms resting on a typewriter in a scene from the film 'Play It Again, Sam', 1972. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)
CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18:  Woody Allen attends the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2015 in Cannes, France.  (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18: Woody Allen attends the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2015 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
American actors Diane Keaton and Woody Allen walk along a street and talk in a scene from 'Annie Hall,' directed by Allen, New York, New York, 1977. 
American actors Diane Keaton and Woody Allen walk along a street and talk in a scene from 'Annie Hall,' directed by Allen, New York, New York, 1977. 
American actor, director and screenwriter Woody Allen, September 1980. 
American actor, director and screenwriter Woody Allen, September 1980. 
US director Woody Allen poses with his wife Soon-Yi at the Lumiere Institute in Lyon, south of France, during a private visit, hours before his jazz concert at the Vienna antic theatre with the 'New Orleans Jazz Band' 08 September 2003.
US director Woody Allen poses with his wife Soon-Yi at the Lumiere Institute in Lyon, south of France, during a private visit, hours before his jazz concert at the Vienna antic theatre with the 'New Orleans Jazz Band' 08 September 2003.
Soon-Yi Previn and Woody Allen with kids.
Soon-Yi Previn and Woody Allen with kids.
Woody Allen receives the Donosti Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kursaal Palace.
Woody Allen receives the Donosti Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kursaal Palace.
US cinema director Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band perform during their first concert of a Spanish tour at Salamanca University in Salamanca 04 September 2003. 
US cinema director Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band perform during their first concert of a Spanish tour at Salamanca University in Salamanca 04 September 2003. 
U.S actor Woody Allen in Rome to present his new film 'Melinda and Melinda'. Woody Allen returns to form as writer & director with this film starring: Will Ferrell Radha Mitchell Chloe Sevigny and Wallace Shawn and after the presentation of the film Woody gave a jazz concert in a theater in downtown Rome, Italy on December 12th, 2004. 
U.S actor Woody Allen in Rome to present his new film 'Melinda and Melinda'. Woody Allen returns to form as writer & director with this film starring: Will Ferrell Radha Mitchell Chloe Sevigny and Wallace Shawn and after the presentation of the film Woody gave a jazz concert in a theater in downtown Rome, Italy on December 12th, 2004. 

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