Woody Allen, one of the most critically acclaimed film directors of all time, is again facing accusations that he sexually abused his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow. While Allen previously was accused of these atrocities in the early 90s during his publicized split from girlfriend Mia Farrow, this is the first time Dylan herself has written about it in public.
In 1993 Allen was not charged with any crimes. He has steadfastly defended his innocence since that time, while Dylan and her family have maintained their accusations.
In an open letter posted via the New York Times, Dylan Farrow told of a harrowing childhood at the hands of a monster. It started like this:
“What’s your favorite Woody Allen movie? Before you answer, you should know: when I was seven years old, Woody Allen took me by the hand and led me into a dim, closet-like attic on the second floor of our house. He told me to lay on my stomach and play with my brother’s electric train set. Then he sexually assaulted me. He talked to me while he did it, whispering that I was a good girl, that this was our secret, promising that we’d go to Paris and I’d be a star in his movies.”
She went on to single out celebrities who have publicly embraced Allen:
What if it had been your child, Cate Blanchett? Louis CK? Alec Baldwin? What if it had been you, Emma Stone? Or you, Scarlett Johansson? You knew me when I was a little girl, Diane Keaton. Have you forgotten me? Woody Allen is a living testament to the way our society fails the survivors of sexual assault and abuse. So imagine your seven-year-old daughter being led into an attic by Woody Allen. Imagine she spends a lifetime stricken with nausea at the mention of his name. Imagine a world that celebrates her tormenter. Are you imagining that? Now, what’s your favorite Woody Allen movie?
Dylan Farrow
While Allen has not directly addressed the open letter in person, his lawyer and publicist have both issued statements on his behalf:
Attorney Elkan Abramowitz:
It is tragic that after 20 years a story engineered by a vengeful lover resurfaces after it was fully vetted and rejected by independent authorities. The one to blame for Dylan’s distress is neither Dylan nor Woody Allen.
Allen’s publicist:
Mr. Allen has read the article and found it untrue and disgraceful. He will be responding very soon…At the time, a thorough investigation was conducted by court appointed independent experts. The experts concluded there was no credible evidence of molestation; that Dylan Farrow had an inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality; and that Dylan Farrow had likely been coached by her mother Mia Farrow. No charges were ever filed.
UPDATE: Here’s part of what Woody himself said: “Of course, I did not molest Dylan. I loved her and hope one day she will grasp how she has been cheated out of having a loving father and exploited by a mother more interested in her own festering anger than her daughter’s well-being.”
CLICK HERE to read Dylan’s response to Woody’s response.
