Woody Allen Doesn't Want Weinstein-Inspired 'Witch Hunt'

Woody Allen says he's sad for everybody involved in the Harvey Weinstein scandal—including Harvey Weinstein. The whole thing "is very sad for everybody involved," he tells the BBC. "Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that [his] life is so messed up. There's no winners in that." Allen said he had heard rumors about Weinstein over the years, but no real "horror stories." He later clarified that the only reason he said he felt sad for Weinstein was "because he is a sad, sick man." Ronan Farrow, Allen's son, was one of the journalists who helped expose Weinstein's behavior. Last year, he slammed the media for not saying enough about sister Dylan Farrow's allegation that Allen molested her. In other developments:

• "Witch hunt." Allen also worried the scandal would create a "witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself." The Washington Post reports that Allen's remarks brought renewed attention to Allen, including his relationship with Weinstein, who was happy to work with Allen after other producers shunned him when abuse allegations surfaced in 1993. "Shunned by Hollywood means nothing to Miramax. We're talking about a comic genius," Weinstein said at the time.

• Academy criticized. John Oliver criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which has expelled Weinstein, for not dealing with other members accused of sex crimes. "Yes, finally, the group that counts among its current members Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby, and Mel Gibson has found the one guy who treated women badly and kicked him out," he said, per the Hollywood Reporter.
• Weinstein showdown. Sources tell TMZ that Harvey Weinstein, who is being treated in Arizona for issues including sex addiction, will be on speakerphone when the Weinstein Company board meets Tuesday. With Bob Weinstein furious about his brother's behavior, the meeting is expected to be "loud and ugly," the sources say.
• James Corden takes heat. The comedian says he is "truly sorry" for joking about Weinstein at a charity event in LA, the Guardian reports. The Late Late Show host says he was trying to "shame him, the abuser, not his victim." Asia Argento, who accuses Weinstein of assaulting her, tweeted a video of his remarks and said: "Shame on this pig and everyone who grunted with him."
• Also in hot water: Mayim Bialik rejects accusations that she was "victim-blaming" in a New York Times op-ed on Friday, in which she wrote about her "self-protecting and wise" decisions to "dress modestly" and not "act flirtatiously with men," USA Today reports. After a backlash, the Big Bang Theory star said critics had been twisting her words.

(More Harvey Weinstein stories.)