Woody Allen’s memoir Apropos of Nothing has stirred controversy with its frank discussion of his relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his former partner, Mia Farrow. In the memoir, Allen openly reflects on their early relationship, admitting that it was fueled by intense lust. Despite the significant age gap between them—35 years—he suggests that Soon-Yi was “ready to ripen superbly” with someone to show her affection. Their relationship, which began when Soon-Yi was 22, was uncovered by Farrow after she discovered explicit photographs of the two.

The book also touches on Allen’s view of the emotional and physical abuse Soon-Yi allegedly endured from Mia Farrow. He recounts stories of Farrow mistreating Soon-Yi, including actions such as threatening her with an asylum and striking her with objects. Allen defends his actions, emphasizing that the relationship was not about betrayal but rather a deep bond that developed over time.

The release of Apropos of Nothing was marred by significant backlash, including protests from Hachette employees, after it was revealed that Allen’s estranged son, Ronan Farrow, had been instrumental in bringing the Harvey Weinstein scandal to light with his Pulitzer-winning reporting. As a result, Hachette canceled the release of the book, which was later published by Arcade, a subsidiary of Skyhorse Publishing.