Thread by @BobWeide

Please take a moment to read the attached list of actor’s names. Then read the tweet thread that follows to reveal what they all have in common. (1/21)

This list presents just a sampling of actors who have either loudly spoken out in #WoodyAllen’s defense over the past year, or have stated their refusal to denounce him, or at very least, chosen to remain neutral despite social media pressure to throw Allen under the bus. (2/21)

You might also add Rebecca Hall and Michael Caine, who initially spoke out against Allen, then did their homework retroactively, and walked back their statements. (This is why it's always good to do your homework before publicizing your opinion.) 3/21

To keep this list reasonably short, I’ve focused on actors who've worked with Allen just in the last few years. Otherwise, the list becomes ridiculously long. (Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Colin Farrell, John Cusack, Antonio Banderas, Will Ferrell, Ewan McGregor, etc.) 4/21

What’s the point? Only that the Farrows and their supporters want actors to believe that if they work with Allen, or refuse to denounce him when asked, their audiences will desert them, and their careers will be irreparably harmed. (5/21)

Now look at that list again and ask yourself which actors have had their careers slowed down one iota since supporting Allen, or refusing to denounce him. (6/21)

Exactly. It’s all bluff. (7/21)

I’ve spoken with a number of actors who have read up on both sides of this issue, believe in Allen’s innocence, yet are still concerned about a possible backlash if they were to work with him. Highly creative people in the 1950s were going to jail and having their... (8/21)

...careers and lives ruined because they refused to cave in to tremendous political pressure. Yet now we have a generation who are paralyzed by a fear of angry tweets or negative blogging. How many names would this crowd give up to protect their own skin? (9/21)

Almost all of the actors in the above list have faced some social media or MSM criticism for not caving in to an ill-informed mob, only to find that mob soon moves on to the next case, and their careers are unscathed. (10/21)

This bears no connection to Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Les Moonves, Donald Trump, or any number of people who have had multiple, credible accusations lodged against them. (11/21)

We are talking about a writer/director who has been making films for 50 years and has never once received a complaint about inappropriate behavior among his colleagues. (Read that sentence again. It's important.) 12/21

But in the midst of contentious custody negotiations 26 years ago, a single allegation of child abuse is lodged by an ex-girlfriend. Her child is now a grown woman sticking to her story, which is fine. (13/21)

Except her story was ruled “not credible” by two separate state-sponsored investigations (CT & NY) held at the time. Consequently, no charges were ever brought against #WoodyAllen. Despite what the Farrows say, these investigations were NEVER discredited.(Enlarge 2 attach.) 14/21

So if you are a reporter asking actors if they’d work with Allen in light of the allegation, but fail to mention his being cleared by these two investigations, then you are not a journalist. You are a gossip columnist. (15/21)

If anyone personally feels Allen is a “bad guy” for getting involved with his ex-girlfriend’s 21-year-old adopted daughter (whom he’s now been happily married to for 21 years) that’s their right. (16/21)

But if they believe their personal feelings should override the rule of law and due process, in hopes of putting an end to Allen's career, they should consider how well that thinking worked out in 1950s America. (17/21)

As for members of the creative community who think Allen is an acceptable sacrifice to appease the angry and ill-informed mob, please don’t complain too loudly if you’re next. (18/21)

And to actors who are asked whether they would ever work with #WoodyAllen, please look at that list once more, and ask yourself what exactly your colleagues have given up by having the spine to stand up to the Twitterati. (19/21)

I guarantee you, when the dust has settled on this story, those who call for the end of Allen’s career will be as well-regarded as those who sat before a committee and named names in America, not so very long ago. (20/21)

(21/21) Thank you for your attention. And now, here's one final thought: