Dylan Farrow has responded to an op-ed Woody Allen published by The New York Times Friday.
In the response, provided to The Hollywood Reporter, Farrow denounced Allen's op-ed -- in which he suggested Farrow's mother, Mia Farrow, had coached her to accuse Allen of sexually assaulting her as a child.
"I have never wavered in describing what he did to me. I will carry the memories of surviving these experiences for the rest of my life," Farrow said.
She went on to challenge other points in Allen's op-ed, calling it 'the latest rehash of the same legalese, distortions, and outright lies he has leveled at me for the past 20 years."
Allen's op-ed came nearly one week after Farrow published an open letter on the Times website, where she detailed an alleged sexual assault Allen carried out on her when she was seven. Farrow is the adopted daughter of Allen and Mia Farrow.
The famous couple was together for 12 years, and split in 1992 after allegations of the abuse surfaced. Allen was never convicted of a crime relating to the allegations. In 1997 he married Soon-Yi Previn, also an adopted daughter of Farrow.
Read Farrow's full response below.
Once again, Woody Allen is attacking me and my family in an effort to discredit and silence me - but nothing he says or writes can change the truth. For 20 years, I have never wavered in describing what he did to me. I will carry the memories of surviving these experiences for the rest of my life.
His op-ed is the latest rehash of the same legalese, distortions, and outright lies he has leveled at me for the past 20 years. He insists my mother brought criminal charges - in fact, it was a pediatrician who reported the incident to the police based on my firsthand account. He suggests that no one complained of his misconduct prior to his assault on me - court documents show that he was in treatment for what his own therapist described as "inappropriate" behavior with me from as early as 1991. He offers a carefully worded claim that he passed a lie detector test - in fact, he refused to take the test administered by the state police (he hired someone to administer his own test, which authorities refused to accept as evidence). These and other misrepresentations have been rebutted in more detail by independent, highly respected journalists, including this most recent article here:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/02/woody-allen-sex-abuse-10-facts
With all the attempts to misrepresent the facts, it is important to be reminded of the truth contained in court documents from the only final ruling in this case, by the New York Supreme Court in 1992. In denying my father all access to me, that court:From the bottom of my heart, I will be forever grateful for the outpouring of support I have received from survivors and countless others. If speaking out about my experience can help others stand up to their tormentors, it will be worth the pain and suffering my father continues to inflict on me. Woody Allen has an arsenal of lawyers and publicists but the one thing he does not have on his side is the truth. I hope this is the end of his vicious attacks and of the media campaign by his lawyers and publicists, as he's promised. I won't let the truth be buried and I won't be silenced.
- Debunked the "experts" my father claims exonerated him, calling them "colored by their loyalty to Mr. Allen", criticizing the author of their report (who never met me) for destroying all supporting documentation, and calling their conclusions "sanitized and therefore less credible".
- Included testimony from babysitters who witnessed inappropriate sexual behavior by my father toward me.
- Found that "there is no credible evidence to support Mr. Allen's contention that Ms. Farrow coached Dylan or that Ms. Farrow acted upon a desire for revenge against him for seducing Soon-Yi. Mr. Allen's resort to the stereotypical 'woman scorned' defense is an injudicious attempt to divert attention from his failure to act as a responsible parent and adult."
- Concluded that the evidence "...proves that Mr. Allen's behavior toward Dylan was grossly inappropriate and that measures must be taken to protect her."
- Finally, the Connecticut State prosecutor found "probable cause" to prosecute, but made the decision not to in an effort to protect "the child victim", given my fragile state.
Reader Comments
"Former Litchfield County state attorney Frank Maco said in a phone interview Sunday with The Associated Press that the statute of limitations on adopted daughter Dylan Farrow's accusations ran out at least 15 years ago."
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Dylan Farrow sounds as if she is getting stronger and stronger. Good for her!
I read a wonderful comment yesterday, paraphrasing; had Allen been compassionate and caring he wouldn't have dragged his own daughter through the mud like that. He would have stayed silent.
Instead, he employs I don't know how many people in order to destroy the (credibility of the) family.
IMO, if people know how to read the signs they will know he is guilty as sin.
It is utterly revolting that so many people stand by Allen and believe and spread the same lies about Dylan and Mia Farrow. Or those that stay silent and don't want to choose sides.
The fact that Allen was allowed to adopt children with his current wife boggles the mind. If the children are girls they won't stand a chance.
...of Limitations on serious crimes is without a cut off date. It is my understanding as a former Police officer that minor crimes have boundaries of time - or a time limit to report and investigate. Serious crimes and Child Abuse is a serious crime is without time limit, same a murder and rape.
When new evidence comes to light then an investigation into a serious crime can be re-opened and the investigation continues. I do not understand the comments about the Statute of Limitations with regard to Dylan Farrow and the abuse she suffered at the hands of a paedophile from whom she could not escape.
I have always wondered about his current wife Soon-Yi and how the truth would impact on her - especially years late when she has had time to fully realise who she married.
Much Peace ...to all abused Children everywhere...