Stephen Lovekin/Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images/Ronan Farrow wants the world to start asking tougher questions when it comes to his father, Woody Allen.
The famed writer and director is at the Cannes Film Festival, where he is set to open the event with his film, Café Society, Wednesday evening. Starring Blake Lively, Kristen Stewart and more A-listers, Café Society landed the coveted debut time slot—much to Ronan's chagrin. In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, Ronan claims "old-school media's slow evolution" has created an environment of silence instead of conversation.
"Amazon paid millions to work with Woody Allen, bankrolling a new series and film. Actors, including some I admire greatly, continue to line up to star in his movies," he writes. "'It's not personal,' one once told me. But it hurts my sister every time one of her heroes like Louis C.K., or a star her age, like Miley Cyrus, works with Woody Allen."
Even though the anonymous celebrity told Ronan working with Woody wasn't "personal," the Today show correspondent said it's exactly that for his sister, Dylan Farrow, who has accused their father of sexual abuse. "Personal is exactly what it is — for my sister, and for women everywhere with allegations of sexual assault that have never been vindicated by a conviction," he writes.
Ahead of tonight's premiere, Woody will walk the red carpet with wife Soon-Yi Previn and his cast, which also includes Steve Carell and Jesse Eisenberg. "They can trust that the press won't ask them the tough questions. It's not the time, it's not the place, it's just not done," he explains. "That kind of silence isn't just wrong. It's dangerous. It sends a message to victims that it's not worth the anguish of coming forward. It sends a message about who we are as a society, what we'll overlook, who we'll ignore, who matters and who doesn't."
Earlier this month THR released its Woody Allen cover story, which didn't sit well with the newscaster because of its lack of depth into the allegations against the director. Instead, it focused a lot on his films and his relationship with Soon-Yi.
"To me it is a sterling example of how not to talk about sexual assault," he writes. "Dylan's allegations are never raised in the interview and receive only a parenthetical mention — an inaccurate reference to charges being 'dropped.' THR later issued a correction: 'not pursued.'"
He continues, "The correction points to what makes Allen, Cosby and other powerful men so difficult to cover. The allegations were never backed by a criminal conviction. This is important. It should always be noted. But it is not an excuse for the press to silence victims, to never interrogate allegations."
Woody swiftly denied the allegations Dylan placed against him, and now says he hasn't seen her or ex-wife Mia Farrow. "I don't think she lives in New York," he said in his THR cover story. "I think she lives in Connecticut. I'm not sure. Or travels for UNICEF or something."