Oscar-winning screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan has defended Manchester By the Sea star Casey Affleck following the controversy surrounding him in the wake of the #MeToo movement and Time's Up initiative.
Affleck – who won an Academy Award last year for Lonergan's Manchester By the Sea – faced two sexual harassment lawsuits by two female co-workers on his 2010 film I'm Still Here. Both cases were later settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
The 42-year-old actor avoided attending the Oscars where he was due to present the Best Actress award last month, and when Lonergan asked whether he thought Affleck had been treated unfairly following #MeToo, he told Variety: "I couldn't be more all for the #MeToo movement and I couldn't feel more strongly that he's been treated abominably.
"It's not good for anybody."
Affleck was replaced by Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster at the ceremony.
On those who criticised the Academy's decision to honour the Gone Baby Gone and Interstellar star at the Oscars in the first place, Lonergan replied: "People really don't know what they are talking about, I'm afraid.
"And I'm afraid they are doing it in the name of a very good cause."
When the allegations initially resurfaced last year, Affleck told the Boston Globe: "I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else."
Affleck was given his Academy Award by the year's previous Best Actress winner Brie Larson, who noticeably chose not to clap for him as he accepted the trophy.
Meanwhile, Lonergan's BBC One adaptation of Howards End starring Hayley Atwell was recently nominated for a BAFTA Best Mini-Series TV award.
He explained that writing the script was both an "exciting" and "challenging" experience, which enabled him to capture the importance of equality.
The classic novel by EM Forster – which was originally published in 1910, and adapted into the Oscar-winning 1992 film – is still relevant and timely today as prominent figures in Hollywood and beyond speak out about gender inequality and discrimination.
"The story is interesting emotionally, culturally, and intellectually," Lonergan added. "I think what makes the story timeless is people want to participate in their culture as equals and that never goes away.
"There's always going to be obstacles to equality. I hope the obstacles dwindle."
Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
