Bill Maher Strongly Defends Woody Allen, Calls Him “Not a Child Molester”

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Bill Maher has sparked controversy again by strongly defending director Woody Allen, a figure who often divides opinion in Hollywood.

On a recent episode of his podcast, the comedian defended Woody Allen against long-standing accusations of sexually abusing his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. The discussion happened on January 19th, while he was recording an episode with comedians David Spade and Dana Carvey.

The conversation started when Carvey said he was amazed Maher had landed an interview with the famously private director, Woody Allen, the year before. “Getting Woody Allen on the show was incredible,” Carvey told Maher, referring to the episode that aired on September 1, 2025. Maher agreed it was a big accomplishment, but then steered the discussion towards the ongoing controversy surrounding Allen, which began in the early 1990s.

Bill Maher firmly defended Woody Allen, rejecting accusations that have led to Allen being ostracized in the US. He directly stated, “He’s not a child molester,” to his audience. While acknowledging the interview with Allen was uncomfortable at times, Maher maintained his conviction that Allen is innocent.

Maher addressed the controversy surrounding Woody Allen, warning against jumping to conclusions and letting preconceived notions cloud judgment. He acknowledged some of Allen’s work wasn’t to his taste, but strongly defended him against accusations of child molestation, and criticized how the media has portrayed the director, shaping public opinion against him.

Bill Maher publicly disagreed with HBO, his employer, over their 2021 documentary series, Allen v. Farrow. He was proud to have spoken out against what he saw as a biased presentation, even if it meant criticizing his own network. As Maher stated, he “strongly defended” the subject of the documentary, with no personal benefit and despite going against his employer.

He felt the documentary didn’t offer a fair look at the family’s complicated relationships, stating it consistently favored one perspective. He emphasized that the film essentially told the story solely from Mia’s point of view. When Spade pointed out the widespread belief in the man’s guilt, Maher quickly countered, asserting his innocence.

Putting aside the legal and ethical arguments, Bill Maher was a little let down by his interview with Woody Allen. He’d been hoping Allen would be as funny and open as he was in his 2020 memoir, Apropos of Nothing. “The book is fantastic… I wanted him to repeat those same ideas in our conversation, but he didn’t always,” Maher explained, adding that Allen’s age might have played a role in the difference.

People have had strong reactions to Bill Maher’s continued interviews with Woody Allen. Some listeners enjoyed the unique access to Allen, but others felt the interviews were more about Maher talking about himself. One listener complained that Maher spent most of the time “just talking about himself,” and another said he seemed to have an inflated ego and overly strong opinions.

Despite winning four Academy Awards, filmmaker Woody Allen has found it increasingly difficult to work in North America. Although he was investigated in 1992 regarding allegations of abuse made by Dylan Farrow – and no charges were filed – the #MeToo movement brought renewed attention to the claims. As a result, Allen has primarily relied on funding from Europe for his recent projects, including his latest film, Coup de Chance, which has received positive feedback overseas.

I’m really wrestling with this whole situation around figures like Woody Allen and whether platforms should keep hosting their work. It’s a tough one, and I’m curious to hear what others think. Should these platforms continue to give a space to people with controversial pasts? I’d love to see a discussion about it in the comments – what are your thoughts?

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2026-01-21 14:21