Newly unsealed Justice Department documents reveal that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein systematically exploited his relationship with filmmaker Woody Allen to gain access to young women, promising them roles in Allen's films as part of a predatory scheme.
The documents, obtained by The Daily Beast, contain emails showing Epstein regularly contacted modeling agencies and talent scouts, positioning himself as a conduit to Allen's productions and offering "casting opportunities" that served as cover for abuse.
In a 2012 email to a modeling agency owner, Epstein wrote: "I'm with Woody Allen and [he is] looking for beautiful girls to cast. Any ideas?" He used this tactic repeatedly, referring to young women as "assistants" while seeking background roles and set visits for them.
Specific examples include:
2014: Requested set visits and background roles for three "assistants" aged 21-26 for "Irrational Man"
2016: Emailed Soon-Yi Previn, Allen's wife, asking if young women could serve as extras during beach filming. She responded favorably.
2017: Coordinated getting women cast as extras for "Wonder Wheel", with specific location details sent to them.
2019: Attempted to secure a lead role in "A Rainy Day in New York" for one woman, though the role ultimately went to Selena Gomez.
According to The Daily Beast, there is no evidence that Allen knew about Epstein's scheme or participated in any illegal activity. The documents suggest Epstein exploited a legitimate professional relationship for illegitimate purposes.
Allen's representative did not respond to requests for comment.
The revelations add another disturbing chapter to Epstein's documented pattern of using wealth, connections, and false promises to manipulate and abuse young women. They also raise uncomfortable questions about how Hollywood's access culture—where proximity to power creates opportunities for exploitation—enabled his crimes.
This is not a story about Woody Allen. This is a story about how a predator weaponized Hollywood's structures of access and aspiration. In Hollywood, nobody knows anything—except me, occasionally. And I know this: the industry still hasn't reckoned with how its gatekeeping mechanisms enable abuse.
