During a recent appearance on CNN’s Amanpour, Cate Blanchett was asked how she could juxtapose being a #MeToo proponent with staying silent about working with Woody Allen.

“How do you…juxtapose being a #MeToo proponent, a Times Up proponent, and staying silent, or having worked with Woody Allen, would you work with him again?” challenged journalist Christine Amanpour, according to The Guardian.

“I don’t think I’ve stayed silent at all,” responded Blanchett.

“When I worked with Woody Allen I knew nothing of the allegations and it came out at the time that the film [Blue Jasmine, 2013] was released. And, at the time, I said, you know, it’s a very painful and complicated situation for the family, which I hope they have the ability to resolve.”

Blanchett went on to address the importance of the judicial system – and stressed that social media shouldn’t be seen as the “judge and jury” when it comes to cases such as these.

“If these allegations need to be re-examined – in my understanding they’ve been through court – then I’m a big believer in the justice system and setting legal precedence,” she said.

“If the case needs to be reopened then I am absolutely whole-heartedly in support of that, because I think that there’s one thing about social media is fantastic about raising awareness about issues, but it’s not the judge and jury.”

Blanchett finished by saying: “I feel that these things need to go into court, so if these abuses have happened, the person is prosecuted and so someone who is not in the shiny industry that I am can use that legal precedent to protect themselves.

“Always, in my industry or any other industry, they’re preyed upon because they’re vulnerable.”

Cate Blanchett explains why she “stayed silent” over Woody Allen abuse allegations