Spike Lee apologizes for seemingly defending Woody Allen

By George Costantino

Spike Lee has apologized for seemingly defending embattled filmmaker Woody Allen against what he called in an interview "this cancel thing."

"I Deeply Apologize," the 63-year-old director tweeted on Saturday. "My Words Were WRONG. I Do Not And Will Not Tolerate Sexual Harassment, Assault Or Violence. Such Treatment Causes Real Damage That Can't Be Minimized.-Truly, Spike Lee."

I Deeply Apologize. My Words Were WRONG. I Do Not And Will Not Tolerate Sexual Harassment, Assault Or Violence. Such Treatment Causes Real Damage That Can't Be Minimized.-Truly, Spike Lee.

— Spike Lee (@SpikeLeeJoint) June 13, 2020

The "Do the Right Thing" filmmaker's apology came after Lee, while promoting his new Netflix film, "Da 5 Bloods," spoke out on the way many people regard Woody Allen amid cancel culture and #MeToo.

"I'd just like to say Woody Allen is a great, great filmmaker," the Lee said on NYC radio station 710 WOR's "In the Morning" program Friday. "And this cancel thing is not just Woody."

"I think when we look back on it we are going to see that -- short of killing somebody -- I don't know that you can just erase somebody like they never existed," Lee continued. "Woody is a friend of mine, a fellow Knick fan, so I know he's going through it right now."

Allen, 84, has been accused of molesting his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, a claim which he has repeatedly denied.

Others -- including Diane Keaton, Alec Baldwin and Scarlett Johansson -- have received backlash for defending the "Annie Hall" filmmaker.