New York (AFP)

Attacked by critics, the Hachette group canceled Friday the publication of the memoirs of the famous New York director Woody Allen, accused of sexually abusing his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow when she was seven years old, which he has always denied.

The book, supposed to retrace in detail the professional and personal life of the prolific 84-year-old filmmaker, author of cult films like "Manhattan" and "Annie Hall", was to be published on April 7 in the United States by a subsidiary of Hachette, Grand Central Publishing.

"The decision to cancel Mr. Allen's book was difficult (...), we do not cancel books lightly," said Sophie Cottrell, spokesperson for Hachette, in an email to AFP. Book Group USA (HBG).

The announcement comes in the aftermath of a demonstration by dozens of Hachette employees, who have left their offices in New York to denounce the publication of the book by the filmmaker, accused of having sexually abused his adopted daughter Dylan in 1992 , which he denies.

"For the past few days, HGB management has had long discussions with staff and others. After listening, we came to the conclusion that maintaining publication was not feasible for HBG," added Sophie Cottrell, stating that Hachette would return "all rights" purchased to the director.

"As a publisher, we work every day to ensure that diverse voices and contradictory views can be heard. As a company, we are also committed to providing a stimulating and welcoming work environment for all of our employees, "she said.

Friday, shortly after the announcement of Hachette's decision, the director's memoirs, entitled "Apropos of Nothing", still appeared on the online sales site Amazon. They were labeled "best seller", which suggests that the site had received a large volume of pre-orders.

When questioned, Hachette did not immediately specify whether he was also canceling the release of the book in other countries. Woody Allen's memoirs were to be released on April 29 in France, where he remains very popular.

- Dylan Farrow "grateful"

The demonstration by Hachette employees came after protests by New Yorker reporter Ronan Farrow, brother of Dylan, one of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize winners, for his investigation into the sexual assaults by film producer Harvey Weinstein.

He, who has always defended his sister, indicated on Tuesday that he had learned from the press that the Hachette group, also publisher via another subsidiary of his own book "Catch and Kill" ("Les silences" in the French edition) on the underside of the Weinstein affair, was about to publish his father's book.

He then declared that he would no longer work with the Hachette group.

Dylan Farrow's accusations are not new. Woody Allen has always refuted them, recalling that after two investigations of several months in the 90s, the Connecticut attorney in charge of the file had decided not to charge him.

But supported by her brother and mother, Mia Farrow, Dylan Farrow renewed their allegations in early 2018, in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

After greeting Hachette employees on Thursday, Dylan Farrow thanked them again on Friday.

"To all the employees (..) who have taken a stand, I am flabbergasted and so grateful," she tweeted.

It is the second time since the start of the #MeToo movement in October 2017 that Woody Allen has seen a contract canceled.

The Amazon platform had canceled in 2018 the planned release of its film "A rainy day in New York", with Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez and Jude Law.

The filmmaker had attacked the platform before the American justice for wrongful breach of contract, claiming him 68 million dollars. Before dropping the lawsuits last November, after having found an agreement with the internet giant whose outlines have not been revealed.

The #MeToo movement has brought down dozens of men in power, especially in the United States.

Europe has often been more lenient, as recently illustrated by the Roman Polanski affair, winner at the end of February in France of the César's best achievement for his film "J'accuse", despite new accusations of sexual assaults against him and a torrent of criticism.

© 2020 AFP