Woody Allen statement disputes molestation allegations

Director Woody Allen issued a statement Sunday disputing Dylan Farrow’s allegations of child molestation.

His response came a day after the New York Times published an online open letter by Farrow, renewing allegations that the Oscar-winning director had molested her when she was 7, five years after she was adopted by Allen and actress Mia Farrow. Dylan Farrow claims the incident happened at the family’s Connecticut home in 1992, toward the end of Allen’s tumultuous 12-year relationship with Mia Farrow.

“Mr. Allen has read the article and found it untrue and disgraceful,” Allen’s spokeswoman, Leslee Dart, said in an email Sunday. “He will be responding very soon.”

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In her letter, Dylan Farrow wrote, “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.” She also alleged a long-standing pattern of abuse.

Allen and Mia Farrow separated after Farrow learned of Allen’s involvement with her adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn, who was 19 at the time (Allen was in his 50s). Allegations of Dylan Farrow’s abuse arose during a subsequent custody battle, and the Connecticut State Police began a criminal inquiry. After a six-month investigation, a team from Yale-New Haven hospital concluded that Dylan Farrow had not been molested. Allen was not charged.

Dylan Farrow is now 28 and living with her husband in Florida under a different name. She decided to speak out publicly against Allen after he was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes in mid-January.

jessica.gelt@latimes.com