by CAROLINE GAVURA Section Editor
Something that has been bothering me for the past few years is how talent has become a justification for doing illegal and morally wrong things. It is frightening how easily the public forgets about these allegations and convictions once the accused creates a new hit song or movie.
A perfect example of this is the open letter written by Dylan Farrow, Woody Allen and Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter, which was published on February 2 in the “New York Times”.
In the letter, Farrow describes the day that Allen allegedly raped her, when she was just seven years old.
“My father 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. 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. I remember staring at the toy train, focusing on it as it traveled in its circle around the attic. To this day, I find it difficult to look at toy trains,” wrote Farrow.
Are these allegations credible? For now, no one knows for sure. However, considering Allen’s past – he had an affair with his other adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, whom he later married – you can understand why a lot of people are taking the letter very seriously.
Others, however, are not – including Farrow’s adoptive brother, Moses, who claims Mia Farrow manipulated her daughter after her divorce with Allen, and seeks revenge as well as attention.
“I really hope these accusations are not true. I like a lot of Woody Allen’s movies, especially ‘Midnight in Paris’. It’s not right that celebrities get away with things like this,” says junior Cori Haider.
Stars such as Lena Dunham and Marina Diamandis took to Twitter to voice their concerns: “Woody Allen is a creep. Terry Richardson is a creep. R. Kelly is a creep. Yet the fashion/music/film industries celebrate & support these people. Justifying their actions because they are ‘talented though..’,” wrote Diamandis.
Dunham also commented on the situation: “In wake of Dylan’s letter I’ve noticed a lot of guys obsessed with the idea of being falsely accused, as if you would just be walking down the street one day, get accused of assault or sexual misconduct, and suddenly would derail. Though there have, of course, been plenty of terrible and unjust cases in the past remember, most victims NEVER speak up. Most never feel they can. These are not stories we tell for fun, attention, or revenge,” wrote Dunham.
Tons of others spoke out via social media in defense and against Farrow’s story. The “New York Times” released a statement saying they may publish a response letter from Allen. Until then, there will be nothing but speculation.
“I think Dylan is strong for what she did, it takes guts to take a stand like that,” says senior Kelsey Rudowitz.
What is your take on the situation?