BOOK IS A BUST
Publisher cancels Woody tome amid kid-sex stink
Woody Allen was written off by his publisher Friday when Hachette Book Group abruptly scrapped the release of his upcoming memoir amid a public backlash and employee revolt.
The director’s memoir, “Apropos of Nothing,” was ready to hit shelves next month, but renewed outrage over his alleged sexual abuse of daughter Dylan Farrow caused Hachette to reverse course.
“The decision to cancel Mr. Allen’s book was a difficult one. At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly,” the publisher said in a statement.
“Over the past few days, HBG leadership had extensive conversations with our staff and others. After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG.”
The announcement followed Thursday’s walkout by dozens of employees who opposed HBG’s decision to publish the memoir and after the director’s son Ronan Farrow, another Hachette author, blasted the publisher on his sister’s behalf.
Allen, 84, has dismissed the “baseless” accusations brought by his daughter.
“To each and every individual who, at great professional risk to themselves, stood in solidarity with my brother, myself, and all the victims of sexual abuse yesterday: words will never describe the debt of gratitude I owe to you,” Dylan Farrow, 34, wrote in a Twitter post Friday.
“For someone who has felt alone in my story for so long, yesterday was a profound reminder of what a difference can be made when people stand and unite together for what’s right,” she wrote.
Allen’s book was announced by Hachette’s Grand Central Publishing imprint Monday, described as a “comprehensive account of his life, both personal and professional.”
Last year, HBG released the bestselling book “Catch and Kill” by Ronan Farrow.
The book focused largely on the unmasking of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 100 women and recently convicted of rape in New York.
“I was disappointed to learn through press reports that Hachette, my publisher, acquired Woody Allen’s memoir after other major publishers refused to do so and concealed the decision from me and its own employees while we were working on ‘Catch and Kill’ — a book about how powerful men, including Woody Allen, avoid accountability for sexual abuse,” Ronan, 32, tweeted Tuesday.
He was pleased with the company’s reversal — and to the rank-and-file workers who helped make it happen.
“Grateful to all the Hachette employees who spoke up and to the company for listening,” he tweeted on Friday evening.