Golden Globe lifetime achievement award winner Woody Allen refused to comment on sexual-abuse allegations made against him by Dylan Farrow, daughter of Allen's ex-girlfriend, actress Mia Farrow, in a new video that surfaced Sunday.
The video, first published by TMZ, shows Hollywood director Allen leaving Madison Square Garden following a New York Knicks game on Saturday night. An off-camera photographer asks Allen about the allegations that Dylan Farrow made in an open letter published in The New York Times. Allen avoids eye contact with the photographer, and does not respond to his questions.
See also: Mia and Ronan Farrow Resurrect 20-Year-Old Woody Allen Scandal
In her letter, Farrow details Allen's alleged abuse against her when she was 7 years old.
"He told me to lay on my stomach and play with my brother’s electric train set. Then he sexually assaulted me," Farrow wrote. "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."
Allen has never been convicted of any wrongdoing in the case. He has consistently denied the allegations against him since his breakup with Mia Farrow in 1992.
Since getting published Saturday, the letter has reignited the controversy, with some celebrities weighing in:
To share in this way is courageous, powerful and generous. Please read: http://t.co/RKKREFB8hM
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) February 1, 2014
Maybe this will help other victims and convince Hollywood to stop kissing Woody Allen's ass: http://t.co/P6FIsBiyac
— Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonHi5) February 1, 2014
Woody Allen is a genius, who I’ve idolized my entire life. But to value his art over the well-being of an abused person is unconscionable.
— Jack Moore (@JackPMoore) February 2, 2014
Farrow's letter also sparked debate over whether one is able to separate a person's art from his or her actions. Nicholas Kristof, a Times columnist (and friend of Mia Farrow) who published the letter on his blog, commented on this potential conflict.
"Look, none of us can be certain what happened. The standard to send someone to prison is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but shouldn’t the standard to honor someone be that they are unimpeachably, well, honorable?" Kristof wrote. "Yet the Golden Globes sided with Allen, in effect accusing Dylan either of lying or of not mattering. That’s the message that celebrities in film, music and sports too often send to abuse victims."
Dylan says she's VERY grateful to all: "The outpouring of support has been monumental, and I'm so immensely grateful. Thank you."
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) February 2, 2014
Quite a gender gap in reaction to Dylan's essay. Many men are denouncing me for publishing it; many women thanking me for the same.
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) February 2, 2014
Allen's representatives did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for comment.
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