Tape Is Held to Contain Child’s Recounting of Abuse by Allen

The twisted psychodrama of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow deepened Wednesday as her press agent revealed that Farrow had videotaped her 7-year-old daughter Dylan recounting alleged sexual abuse by Allen.

A copy of the tape ended up at a local television station. Producers considered airing it, but were stopped by lawyers representing the feuding parents, said John Springer, a Farrow spokesman.

Allen and Farrow, through representatives, say they are acting in the best interests of the children--11 in all--brought up by the actress with help from her former companion and film director.

But the siblings have been left in anguish and divided against one another, friends and relatives say. Farrow and her children have spent months in psychiatric care, one friend said, coping with the implications of Allen’s admitted affair with one of Farrow’s grown daughters and of Farrow’s contention that he sexually abused Dylan.

Dylan was adopted first by Farrow and then by Allen. The Connecticut state police are investigating the abuse charge and have already interviewed Farrow, the child and the doctor who examined Dylan, according to Farrow’s lawyer, Alan Dershowitz.

Allen on Tuesday denied that he had sexually abused any of his children. He said Farrow concocted the charge in retaliation for his love affair with her daughter, Soon-Yi Farrow Previn.

The war of words, pictures and videotape intensified Wednesday. Springer, Farrow’s spokesman, said he did not know how the local Fox affiliate got the video of Dylan. But Leslee Dart, Allen’s spokeswoman, said the tape must have come from either Farrow’s attorneys or Connecticut police. Police would not comment.

A statement from the television station said: “The tape seemed to support Farrow’s allegations of abuse. The child seemed nervous and visibly shaken. We can’t show you that tape because attorneys for Allen, Farrow and a New York state judge have requested we not show it.”

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