Diane Keaton Defends Woody Allen on Abuse Claims: 'I Believe My Friend'
She also responds to being dragged into the drama by Dylan Farrow.
May 5, 2014 — -- Diane Keaton has been friends with Woody Allen for more than three decades.
In fact, Keaton admitted, "I love him."
The Oscar winner and "Annie Hall" star spoke to The Guardian about Allen and his rough 2014, marred by allegations from his daughter, Dylan Farrow, of abuse that she has alleged happened more than 20 years ago.
Read: Dylan Farrow Responds After Woody Allen Rejects Her Molestation Claims
"I have nothing to say about that. Except: I believe my friend," Keaton, 68, told the newspaper.
The old allegations popped up after Allen was presented with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globe awards on Jan. 12, followed by a tweet from Mia Farrow's son, Ronan Farrow, slamming the director.
Then, Dylan Farrow penned an open letter in the New York Times in February about Allen and what she said the director did to her all those years ago. Keaton, Scarlett Johansson and other actresses that have worked with the iconic director were called out by Farrow for staying silent on the subject.
"They have to drag someone in. I don't resent it, not for a second," Keaton said.
Keaton added that she never knew Dylan Farrow well.
Related: Family Takes Sides in Woody Allen, Dylan Farrow Saga
"I saw her maybe three times," Keaton told The Guardian's Emma Brockes. "I didn't know her. It's not a bad accusation. I was never friends with Mia -- I was friendly. Sort of like I'm friendly with you. I like you, I like the way you are. I like the way she is, too. She's very charming. But I never knew her as a friend. A friend -- that's a commitment."
She added, "Friendship requires a lot of time. I don't have a lot of friends; I have acquaintances and people I think are charming, and I like to see them. I like to see Sarah Jessica Parker, I like to see Meryl Streep. I don't know them -- I mean, I made a movie with them, once, and that's nice -- but I know nothing about their lives."
Someone she did call a friend was Allen, 78.
"He's the strongest person I've met in my life," she said. "He's made of steel. And talk about a work ethic -- he's one of the people that really did teach me that you have to work hard."
