NEW YORK — Woody Allen called Dylan Farrow’s allegations of child molestation “untrue and disgraceful,” signaling that he would fight renewed claims dating back to Allen’s tempestuous relationship with actress Mia Farrow in the early 1990s.
The movie director’s publicist Leslee Dart said in an email Sunday that Allen has read Dylan Farrow’s open letter, published online Saturday by The New York Times, claiming she was sexually assaulted when she was 7 by her then adoptive father.
“Mr. Allen has read the article and found it untrue and disgraceful,” Dart said.
Allen’s lawyer, Elkan Abramowitz, also reacted: “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.”
Dylan Farrow claimed that in 1992 at their Connecticut home, Allen led her to a “dim, closet-like attic” and “then he sexually assaulted me.” Farrow didn’t specify Allen’s actions but described other abusive behavior. Ronan Farrow, the son of Allen and Mia Farrow (though she has said ex-husband Frank Sinatra could be the father), said on Twitter: “I love and support my sister and think her words speak for themselves.”