Dylan Farrow, Mia Farrow’s daughter, has recently released an open letter in The New York Times that confirms old accusations that Woody Allen sexually assaulted her as a child. Her letter is brave, heartbreaking and completely correct in her condemnation, not only of Woody Allen for his abuse but also of the society that would willing turn a blind eye to protect a favorite.
Some people’s first response to this discovery could be to doubt what she is saying. Woody Allen is a beloved film director and cemented pop culture icon. When you hear about such awful acts coming from such an admired person, the first response is often backlash.
This is, of course, insulting to rape and abuse victims everywhere. Our society has always been overly eager to assume that the victim is lying or that it is somehow his or her fault, and this is one of the biggest reasons that so many acts of sexual violence go unreported. Our first response to news like this should always be support and understanding toward the victim.
The added complication of this particular case is the emotional connection Allen’s fans feel not only to his movies but also to him.
I struggled with my own attachment to his work when I heard the news. After all, it isn’t as if his movies are suddenly bad. Once you have accepted art into your life and into your heart, there is a certain ownership that is hard to let go.
I felt conflicted as to whether it was right for me to still appreciate his movies.
That is until I actually read Dylan Farrow’s open letter. Her story was pointed and heartbreaking. When I finished reading it, I actually felt nauseated.
It was at this point that I realized how selfish my reaction to her confession had been. The fact that Annie Hall is forever tainted now is hardly the biggest tragedy of this story. A young girl was sexually and emotionally abused, and she was made to feel, by an entire industry and fan base, that her struggle was less important than a slew of popular movies.
The only excuse I can see for this is that people don’t want to condemn stories they love. This philosophy, however, is making a tragedy about you, the viewer, when it could not be less about you.
The real victim here is a 7-year-old girl who was abused by a trusted father figure and pressured to keep silent for 21 years as the rest of the world worshiped her abuser.
We were wrong to ignore it in the past — not just with Woody Allen but also with every public figure guilty of crimes that have other men rotting in prison without a thought of forgiveness. We would be even worse to ignore it again.
The only thing the public can do now is to do as Farrow asks: acknowledge her struggle, adjust our idols and be more receptive in the future.
— jordile@indiana.edu
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Tackling Woody Allen
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