Woody Allen responds to HBO 'hatchet job' documentary 'Allen v. Farrow'

Woody Allen has said that the makers of new HBO documentary series Allen v. Farrow 'had no interest in the truth', branding the project 'a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods'.

The series, the first episode of which debuted last night, has been made by directors Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick, and explores the relationship between Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, and investigates decades-old accusations of child abuse.

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Dylan Farrow has long claimed that she was sexually abused by Allen in 1992, when she was seven-year-old.

The allegations were investigated, but Allen was never prosecuted and the The New York Department of Social Services found 'no credible evidence' to support the allegations made against him.

The first episode of the series implies that Allen had groomed Dylan from a young age.

But in a joint statement from Allen and his wife Soon-Yi Previn to The Hollywood Reporter, Allen has slammed the series.

“These documentarians had no interest in the truth,” it reads. “Instead, they spent years surreptitiously collaborating with the Farrows and their enablers to put together a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods.

Woody and Soon-Yi were approached less than two months ago and given only a matter of days 'to respond.' Of course, they declined to do so.

Read more: Allen reveals details of affair with Soon-Yi Previn

“As has been known for decades, these allegations are categorically false. Multiple agencies investigated them at the time and found that, whatever Dylan Farrow may have been led to believe, absolutely no abuse had ever taken place.

“It is sadly unsurprising that the network to air this is HBO – which has a standing production deal and business relationship with Ronan Farrow. While this shoddy hit piece may gain attention, it does not change the facts.”

Watch: Dylan Farrow opens up about Woody Allen