(160511) -- CANNES, May. 11, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Director Woody Allen attends a photocall for the film "Cafe Society" during the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 11, 2016. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)
Paris, May 13 (IANS) Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux was concerned enough about French comedian Laurent Lafittes rape joke on the opening night of the gala that he immediately approached Woody Allen after the ceremony to make sure he wasnt offended.
Lafitte drew gasps from the audience with the joke that referred to the sexual assault allegations against the 80-year-old, who is in France to promote his film "Cafe Society".
The director told Frémaux he is actually a fan of provocative humour. At a Thursday luncheon celebrating Cafe Society", he told variety.com that he is a proponent of free speech and therefore didnt take it personally.
Its unclear whether Lafitte's joke was aimed at Allen and Roman Polanski or both.
Allen is in the headlines again after son Ronan Farrow penned a blistering op-ed article, faulting the media for not pressing the filmmaker on allegations he sexually abused his daughter, Dylan Farrow.
