Talent agent Toni Howard has expressed her skepticism about the #MeToo movement as she throws her support behind Woody Allen and Louis C.K. in a new interview.
Howard, 75, told The Hollywood Reporter that the side effects of the movement have ‘gone too far the other way’.
‘Some of the women I really admire. But I don’t understand women being sexually abused and then going and having a relationship with that person,’ she said.
The ICM partner then said she feels that Allen ‘is being unfairly treated’.
‘What’s happening to Louis C.K.,’ she says, ‘it breaks my heart’.
Talent agent Toni Howard (pictured on Wednesday) has expressed her skepticism about the #MeToo movement as she throws her support behind Woody Allen and Louis C.K. in a new interview
The ICM partner then said she feels that Allen (left) ‘is being unfairly treated’. ‘What’s happening to Louis C.K. (right),’ she says, ‘it breaks my heart’
Howard, who represents Samuel L. Jackson (pictured together in March 2014) and Spike Lee, said that she was doing progressive work in the industry before the #MeToo movement of #OscarsSoWhite
‘Somebody could say, “Don’t jerk off in front of me, Louis.” But I guess it’s not really appropriate to talk about Louis in The Hollywood Reporter women’s issue…’ Howard told the publication.
Howard, who represents Samuel L. Jackson and Spike Lee, went on to say that she was doing progressive work in the industry before the #MeToo movement of #OscarsSoWhite.
‘If they say, “I don’t think they’re right for the part,” I have to turn it around,’ Howard said, adding that she has been able to morph male roles into female ones, something that has gotten easier ‘since the #MeToo situation’.
Louis C.K. used to be one of the biggest names in comedy until his reputation was tainted with a bombshell New York Times investigation in which five women accused him of sexual misconduct, which he later confessed was true.
He spent nine months laying low before he returned to the stand-up stage earlier this year.
Allen’s adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, claimed in 1992 that the Oscar-winning director sexually abused her at the Connecticut home she shared with her mother, Allen’s partner Mia Farrow.
In the wake of sexual misconduct revelations about Harvey Weinstein, millions shared their stories about being sexually harassed and assaulted in the #MeToo movement (supporters outside the Trump International Hotel in New York)
Activist Tarana Burke first began using the phrase a decade ago to raise awareness about sexual violence
At the time of the alleged abuse, Dylan was just seven years old.
Allen, 84, denies any wrongdoing in the case of Dylan and the allegations have never been proven. He claims Mia Farrow used Dylan as pawn amid their bitter split.
His wife, Soon-Yi Previn, 49, is the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow, and musician André Previn.
Previn was 21 when she began a relationship with Allen, who was then 56 years old.
The news of their relationship in 1992 shocked the entertainment world and they married in 1997.
Dylan continues to stand by her allegations against Allen, writing a highly-publicized open letter in The New York Times in 2014, reiterating that the abuse took place.
Allen’s career has slowed in recent years, with several actors who had appeared in his films saying they would not work with him again. This includes Ellen Page, Greta Gerwig and Natalie Portman.
In the wake of sexual misconduct revelations about Harvey Weinstein, millions shared their stories about being sexually harassed and assaulted in the #MeToo movement.
Activist Tarana Burke first began using the phrase a decade ago to raise awareness about sexual violence.
The slogan resurfaced in October 2017 after actress Alyssa Milano followed on a suggestion from a friend and tweeted: ‘If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write “me too” as a reply to this tweet.’
The hashtag was tweeted nearly a million times in 48 hours.
#MeToo is linked to the Time’s Up movement, which was set up last year after to provide funds for women taking legal action against alleged abusers.
Time’s Up also wants to introduce legislation across the globe to penalize companies that tolerate persistent harassment, and to discourage the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence victims.
It is backed by more than 300 women in Hollywood including Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, Laura Dern and Oprah Winfrey.