In 1992, after 12 years together, the Oscar-winning writer/director and his romantic partner/professional collaborator became embroiled in a public war for custody of their three children, one that included not only Dylan’s accusations but also the revelation of Allen’s sexual relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, Farrow’s adopted daughter from a previous marriage, and the release of their 13th film together, “Husbands and Wives.â€.
Here’s a selected timeline of events in Allen and Farrow’s relationship, Dylan‘s claims of abuse, the custody battle and major developments since, with excerpts from Los Angeles Times coverage as it happened.Farrow, divorced from Previn, and Allen, not far removed from winning multiple Oscars for “Annie Hall,†are introduced at Elaine’s restaurant in Manhattan after a performance of Bernard Slade’s play “Romantic Comedy,†in which Farrow was then starring with Anthony Perkins.
It is the first of Allen and Farrow’s 13 films together, including “Broadway Danny Rose,†“The Purple Rose of Cairo,†“Hannah and Her Sisters,†“Crimes and Misdemeanors†and “Husbands and Wives.â€.
1980: Farrow adopts Moses Farrow, 2, from South Korea.July 11, 1985: Farrow adopts infant daughter Dylan, who was born in Texas.Robinson.†(Through the years, there would be speculation that Ronan was fathered by Frank Sinatra, Mia’s first husband.) Farrow and Allen were not married.
December 1991: Allen adopts Dylan and Moses.According to subsequent court testimony it is around this time that Allen, then 56, begins a sexual relationship with Soon-Yi, 21.
August 4, 1992: Dylan claims Allen sexually abused her on this day when she was 7 years old.Farrow begins filming Dylan discussing the abuse on the family camcorder.
August 13, 1992: Allen sues Farrow for custody of Ronan, Dylan and Moses.August 17, 1992: Allen confirms his relationship with Soon-Yi in a statement.August 18, 1992: Allen delivers a public statement at New York’s Plaza Hotel calling the allegations of child molestation “false and outrageous.†In the statement, Allen claims that Farrow has coached Dylan to make the accusation as part of the couple’s custody battle.August 25, 1992: As part of a media war with Farrow outlined in the docuseries, Allen sits for an extensive interview with the Los Angeles Times.18, 1992: “Husbands and Wives,†Allen and Farrow’s final film together, is released in U.S.
The film stars Allen and Farrow as Gabe and Judy, a couple whose marriage unravels just as Gabe, a writing professor, begins a flirtation with one of his students, played by Juliette Lewis.
21, 1992: The frenzy around Allen and Farrow leads to packed houses for the opening weekend of “Husbands and Wives,†The Times reports.
March 19, 1993: The custody trial in Allen vs.Farrow begins7
June 7, 1993: Mia Farrow wins custody of Ronan, Dylan and Moses.Allen is denied visitation rights with Dylan.
“What’s your favorite Woody Allen movie?†the letter begins.
5, 2014: In an interview with People magazine shortly after Dylan’s letter, Moses defends Allen.
2017: Dylan Farrow publishes a Los Angeles Times op-ed, “Why has the #MeToo revolution spared Woody Allen?†Just two months after reports of a pattern of sexual harassment and assault by film producer Harvey Weinstein sparked the #MeToo movement, Farrow responds to the release of Allen’s latest film, “Wonder Wheel†by writing, “Why is it that Harvey Weinstein and other accused celebrities have been cast out by Hollywood, while Allen recently secured a multimillion-dollar distribution deal with Amazon, greenlit by former Amazon Studios executive Roy Price before he was suspended over sexual misconduct allegations?â€