Ronan Farrow Slams Media for Coddling His Father, Woody Allen

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By Josefin Dolsten May 11, 2016

Ronan Farrow, son of Jewish filmmaker Woody Allen, called out the media on failing to publish information about his father’s alleged sexual abuse of daughter Dylan Farrow.

Ronan wrote that he believes claims by Dylan that Allen routinely molested her as a child to be true, and recounts how his father would go into his sister’s bed at night and force her to suck his thumb, in the Hollywood Reporter.

He alleges that media outlets refused to publish the truth about his sister’s sexual abuse claims, instead relying on talking points provided by Allen’s public relations representatives, creating what he termed “a self-perpetuating spin machine.”

In one instance the New York Times published Dylan’s account of repeated sexual abuse as a child by her father online, but then published Allen’s longer response in their print edition.

“It was a stark reminder of how differently our press treats vulnerable accusers and powerful men who stand accused,” Ronan wrote.

Ronan, who is a journalist, called on the media to stop protecting those facing sexual abuse allegations and to allow victims to be heard by publishing their accounts.

“Very often, women with allegations do not or cannot bring charges. Very often, those who do come forward pay dearly, facing off against a justice system and a culture designed to take them to pieces. A reporter’s role isn’t to carry water for those women. But it is our obligation to include the facts, and to take them seriously. Sometimes, we’re the only ones who can play that role,” he wrote.

Josefin Dolsten can be contacted at dolsten@forward.com, and followed on Twitter @JosefinDolsten

Josefin Dolsten is a New York-based writer who has reported for the Forward, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, The Times of Israel and other Jewish publications. She currently works as an account director at Fenton Communications, supporting organizations that work to advance racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive rights and more. Dolsten earned her B.A. in government from Cornell University and her M.A. in comparative religion and Jewish studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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