Woody Allen Puts Himself In A Pickle With Moscow Film Festival Appearance
HuffPost
The director defended himself after the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused him of helping "whitewash" Russia's crimes.
Woody Allen is defending his decision to appear at a Moscow film festival.
“When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I believe strongly that Vladimir Putin is totally in the wrong. The war he has caused is appalling,” he told The Guardian in a statement published Monday. “But, whatever politicians have done, I don’t feel cutting off artistic conversations is ever a good way to help.”
Allen’s apologia comes after Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the director for helping “whitewash” Russia’s reputation by speaking during an event hosted by Putin ally and filmmaker, Fyodor Bondarchuk. Allen did not attend the talk in person but appeared by video.
“Woody Allen’s participation in the Moscow international film week is a disgrace and an insult to the sacrifice of Ukrainian actors and film-makers who have been killed or injured by Russian war criminals in their ongoing war against Ukraine,” the ministry said in a social media post.
“By taking part in a festival that brings together Putin’s supporters and voices, Allen chooses to turn a blind eye to the atrocities Russia commits in Ukraine every single day for 11 years now,” the statement continued.
The "Tonight Show" host even pulled in the Vatican for his punch line.
The late night host torched a key claim the president frequently makes.
"It feels real now," he said.
Amazon reportedly spent $40 million on "Melania: Twenty Days to History" and another $35 million to promote it, raising eyebrows before reviews even arrive.
“Her generation gives me hope,” the lifestyle icon said.
"I’m sending you all my love and gratitude during this extraordinarily difficult time. Not only for Tim, me and our family, but in the collective heaviness so many of us seem to be carrying right now," she said on Instagram.
The rock legend didn't pull any punches — just his music.
A few Oscar-nominated films are also trending this week.
The late night host grew emotional as he spoke about the weekend's killing of a 37-year-old ICU nurse.
The "Late Show" host called out the administration after this weekend's deadly shooting in Minneapolis.
The Olympic freestyle skier, who is gay, drew parallels between his pre-coming-out life and the smash sports-themed romance series.
"What has happened to me is an amplified version of what a lot of women live through," the actor reportedly explains in a new documentary.
Spanish state prosecutors shelved the probe after concluding its National Court lacked jurisdiction to judge the matter.