HBO Max Will Not Remove Woody Allen Movies, Says Viewers Can Decide to Stream or Not

Zack Sharf
·2 min read
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HBO Max will not remove Woody Allen movies from its streaming platform, despite HBO now airing its four-part documentary series “Allen v. Farrow.” The show examines Dylan Farrow’s accusations of sexual abuse against Woody Allen, which has left many viewers puzzled over how HBO could air the series while also streaming six of Allen’s movies on HBO Max. The Allen movies now available to stream are “Scoop,” “Broadway Danny Rose,” “Shadows and Fog,” “Radio Days,” “Another Woman,” and “September,” five of which star Mia Farrow.

“These titles will remain available in the library to allow viewers to make their own informed decisions about screening the work,” HBO said in a statement to The Wrap.

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HBO’s decision to continue streaming Allen’s films drew ire from many industry voices on social media, with Ernest Media Empire journalist Ernest Owens writing on Twitter, “White privilege is letting Woody Allen keep his films playing on HBO Max, while now running a documentary about his alleged sexual abuse. He’s collecting a check, while simultaneously getting exposed on the same platform. Gross.”

“Allen v. Farrow,” directed by Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick, began its four-part run on HBO this past Sunday. Soon after the first episode’s airing, Allen and his wife Soon-Yi Previn issued a statement condemning the project and the network for airing it.

“These documentarians had no interest in the truth,” Allen and Previn’s joint statement reads. “Instead, they spent years surreptitiously collaborating with the Farrows and their enablers to put together a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods. Woody and Soon-Yi were approached less than two months ago and given only a matter of days ‘to respond.’ Of course, they declined to do so.”

The statement continues, “As has been known for decades, these allegations are categorically false. Multiple agencies investigated them at the time and found that, whatever Dylan Farrow may have been led to believe, absolutely no abuse had ever taken place. It is sadly unsurprising that the network to air this is HBO — which has a standing production deal and business relationship with Ronan Farrow. While this shoddy hit piece may gain attention, it does not change the facts.”

“Allen v. Farrow” continues airing Sunday nights at 9pm ET on HBO.

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