Griffin Newman Woody Allen Movie RAINN Donation

Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Variety/REX/Shutterstock.

Actor Griffin Newman felt conflicted about his role in an upcoming Woody Allen movie, so he took action about it. Newman decided to donate his earnings from the film to RAINN, an organization that offers a number of anti-sexual violence services. RAINN helps survivors by operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline, and the organization does work in the policy and education sectors as well.

The actor, who currently stars on Amazon's The Tick, explained his decision in a lengthy Twitter thread on Saturday.

"I need to get this off my chest:- I worked on Woody Allen’s next movie. - I believe he is guilty. - I donated my entire salary to RAINN," Newman wrote on Twitter.

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"We're very appreciative of Griffin's generous donation," RAINN's VP of communications, Jodi Omear, said in a statement provided to Refinery29. "We have seen a recent increase in donations to RAINN from the Hollywood community and the public who stand with survivors, as well as an increase in calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline. We'll use the funds to continue our hotline and programs to prevent sexual violence, support survivors and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice."

I need to get this off my chest:
- I worked on Woody Allen’s next movie.
- I believe he is guilty.
- I donated my entire salary to RAINN.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

Newman also shared the reasons why, if he thinks Allen were guilty of molesting Dylan Farrow, he chose to work on the upcoming film.

"Why didn’t I quit?- My parents were incredibly proud. - I felt there things to be gained from the experience on that set. - I was a coward," Newman tweeted. "It was an educational experience for all the wrong reasons. I learned conclusively that I cannot put my career over my morals again."

- It’s a one scene role.
- I spent a month debating whether or not to quit.
- I deeply regret my final decision.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

Why didn’t I quit?
- My parents were incredibly proud.
- I felt there things to be gained from the experience on that set.
- I was a coward.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

It was an educational experience for all the wrong reasons. I learned conclusively that I cannot put my career over my morals again.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

I had been feeling this way for the last month, but the awful continuance revelations of the last week compounded my guilt ten fold.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

I’ve spent the last decade struggling as an actor, and learned to sideline my views because the thought of closing any doors was terrifying.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

I’ve been steadfast in what I stand for in my personal life and on Twitter, but would largely take the check and bite my tongue on set.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

I can’t keep professionally operating from a place of fear. It’s time to show a courage in my actions mirroring my words without concession.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

To anyone who thinks I took the easy way out by taking the job THEN denouncing it, I assure you that is the worst combination of choices.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017

At the point in the response cycle where I’m getting equal amounts of (separate) criticism for taking the job as believing that he’s guilty.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

After Newman's tweets went viral, he clarified what he meant in the original thread by sending a few additional tweet clarifications. He also shared the link to Dylan Farrow's New York Times essay.

1. My original tweet made people infer that being on set somehow convinced me of his guilt. No. It just made me feel like a hypocrite.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

2. People ask me for evidence of his guilt. I don't have any. I just read this and know who I want to believe. https://t.co/7SkXTc2wZc
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

3. "My parents were proud of me" now reads to me like placing blame on them. Not my intent. I take full responsibility for my decisions.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

4. "Why did it take you months to feel guilty?" It didn't. It took seconds. It just took me until now to verbalize it publicly.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

5. I wasn't tweeting to gain absolution or admiration, I was just looking to air my thoughts. It now grew into something beyond my control.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

6. I'm not looking to be celebrated. I advise everyone to signal boost survivors or those who made the right choice the first time instead.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

7. Anyone who thinks I was doing this for free press and/or to boost my career has no idea how this industry actually works.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

Getting a non-stop stream of people telling me to go fuck myself on both sides of the issue now. It's overwhelming, and I'm at a loss.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

So I'm aiming to take the next week away from Twitter, since my words have already taken on a life of their own at this point.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

I just ask that people react to what I actually said, not the reaction it has provoked. The latter is not my design.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

I accept being criticized for what I've done or said, but to criticize me for the amount of attention it received feels... misplaced.
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

With all that having been said, if something good can come out of all this I hope it's support for @RAINN01. https://t.co/FijrQKPSLa
— Griffin Newman (@GriffLightning) October 15, 2017

It's clear from Newman's tweets that he felt incredibly conflicted about the situation, and is still working through guilty feelings. It could be seen brave of him to speak up about his experience, especially as we discuss how men can be allies for female survivors.

If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, please call the RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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This story has been updated to include a comment from RAINN.

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