“The Tick” star Griffin Newman took to Twitter on Saturday to denounce his own work in an upcoming Woody Allen movie, given that the director’s been accused of sexual assault in the past.
“I need to get this off my chest,” Newman wrote in the first of a series of tweets. “I worked on Woody Allen’s next movie. I believe he is guilty.”
The actor, whose previous credits include the TBS comedy “Search Party” and HBO’s “Vinyl,” went on to say he shot a one-scene role in the upcoming untitled movie, starring Elle Fanning, Selena Gomez and “Call Me By Your Name’s” Timothée Chalamet, but donated his entire paycheck to the anti-sexual assault organization RAINN.
“I spent a month debating whether or not to quit,” he wrote. “I deeply regret my final decision.”
Allen has been accused of sexual assault by his adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow, an allegation for which he was investigated in 1992 but never charged. Allen has denied the allegations as an invention of Farrow’s mother, actress Mia Farrow, but they were brought back to the public’s attention when Farrow detailed her experience in an open letter in the New York Times in 2014.
“I have unequivocally believed that he is guilty since reading Dylan Farrow’s NY Times piece,” Newman wrote, explaining that he took the job despite knowing the allegations against Allen. Calling himself a “coward,” Newman said he took the role because he “felt there things to be gained from the experience on that set.”
“It was an educational experience for all the wrong reasons. I learned conclusively that I cannot put my career over my morals again,” he wrote, explaining that as a struggling actor, he was afraid to shut the door on an opportunity. “I can’t keep professionally operating from a place of fear. It’s time to show a courage in my actions mirroring my words without concession.”
Newman’s tweets follow a week of news about the powerhouse producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of women, including actresses Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Mira Sorvino, Cara Delevingne, Rose McGowan, Asia Argento, Kate Beckinsale and Minka Kelly.
I need to get this off my chest:
– I worked on Woody Allen’s next movie.
– I believe he is guilty.
– I donated my entire salary to RAINN.– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
– It’s a one scene role.
– I spent a month debating whether or not to quit.
– I deeply regret my final decision.– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
Why didn’t I quit?
– My parents were incredibly proud.
– I felt there things to be gained from the experience on that set.
– I was a coward.– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
It was an educational experience for all the wrong reasons. I learned conclusively that I cannot put my career over my morals again.
– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
I had been feeling this way for the last month, but the awful continuance revelations of the last week compounded my guilt ten fold.
– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
I’ve spent the last decade struggling as an actor, and learned to sideline my views because the thought of closing any doors was terrifying.
– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
I’ve been steadfast in what I stand for in my personal life and on Twitter, but would largely take the check and bite my tongue on set.
– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
I can’t keep professionally operating from a place of fear. It’s time to show a courage in my actions mirroring my words without concession.
– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
To anyone who thinks I took the easy way out by taking the job THEN denouncing it, I assure you that is the worst combination of choices.
– Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/GriffLightning/status/919344546223403008