Woody Allensaid he had not read a recent op-ed penned by his estranged son, Ronan Farrow, which criticizedthe director and the mediafor not covering hisalleged sexual abuse as much as his new films, Varietyreports.
I never read anything about me, these interviews I do, anything, Allen said to reporters at the Cannes Film Festival. I said everything I had to say about that whole issue in The New York Times. I have moved so far past it. I never think about it. I work. I said I was never going to comment on it again. I said everything I have to say about it.
Farrow published his piece in The Hollywood ReporterWednesday, a week after the magazine printed a glowing cover story about Allenand his new film, Caf Society. The story, however, barely touched on the allegations that Allen sexually assaulted Farrows sister, Dylan, while in a relationshipwiththeir mother, Mia. Theaccusations were first leveled at Allen in 1993, but the director was never prosecuted and has maintained his innocence; in 2014, they resurfaced with Dylan detailing her story in an open letter in The Times.
Miley Cyrus to Star in Woody Allen Amazon SeriesThurston Moore: 5 Songs That Influenced Me Early OnThe 13 Greatest Country Songs for Thanksgiving
At Cannes, Allen went on to insist that he would not read Farrows op-ed, speaking of it as a self-absorbed distraction similar to reading reviews or box office reports: Forget about all that. Just work. Its worked for me. Ive been very productive over the years by not thinking about myself. I dont like to hear that a critic thinks my film is a masterpiece and I dont like to hear that a critic thinks my film misses. While a Variety reporter noted Farrow was not a critic, but Allens son, the director responded, Ive said all I have to say about it.
Allen was also asked about a brutal joke French actor Laurent Lafitte made while serving as MC of Cannes opening night, when Caf Society premiered. Its very nice that youve been shooting so many movies in Europe, even if you are not being convicted for rape in the U.S., Lafitte cracked, also alluding to Roman Polanski.
Allen, however, was unfazed by the joke.I am completely in favor of comedians making any jokes they want, he said. I am a non-judgmental or [non]-censorship person on jokes. Im a comic myself and I feel they should be free to make whatever jokes they want. He added: It would take a lot to offend me, before explaining that theworst part about the Cannes opening ceremony was that it went on too long.