Like many of you, I don’t want to believe that Woody Allen could have molested his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. Why? Because I love his movies, and, more importantly, I don’t want to believe that anyone who’s been in psychoanalysis for that many years could do such a thing. But, let’s get real here.

As Woody wants us to believe, it is true that, when parents are separating, some mothers try to persuade their children to make false sex abuse claims against their fathers, out of hurt, anger or efforts to obtain more custody. However, when the child is now 28, and expresses herself in words that ring absolutely true for the description of a 7-year-old daughter who was sexually assaulted by her dad, it cannot still be attributed to a mother’s revenge. Dylan has no reason to reveal intimate details - from being told “to lay on (her) stomach and play” with toy trains, to his breathing in and out on her “naked lap” - except for her outrage at the continued honors heaped upon her father, as if her pain didn’t exist.

Despite his being an honored writer, Woody’s denial essay rings hollow, and Dylan has already rebutted his claims with references to the original 1992 court documents. The court found that the sexual abuse “experts” were "colored by their loyalty to Mr. Allen." The court also concluded that his behavior was “grossly inappropriate and that measures must be taken to protect her,” only deciding not to prosecute because of Dylan’s fragility.

But, the most glaring flaw in Woody’s denials is the fact that he did molest his adopted stepdaughter, Soon-Yi. In fact, it was Mia’s discovery of the naked photos he took of Soon-Yi that precipitated their separation (and, in case you’re wondering, taking naked photos of one’s adopted stepdaughter is indeed molestation). It was no coincidence that Woody ended his psychoanalysis when his ‘relationship’ with Soon-Yi began. Indeed, no psychoanalyst worth his salt would have condoned such a relationship. And, the fact that he then went on to marry her, and adopt two children, does not make the situation any less twisted.

Carole Lieberman, M.D., America's Psychiatrist, is a 3-time Emmy award-winner, TV personality and radio talk show host. She's an award-winning author of three books, including her latest, Bad Girls: Why Men Love Them & How Good Girls Can Learn Their Secrets.

For more information on Dr. Lieberman check out her website DrCarole.com.

Follow her on Twitter: @DrCaroleMD

By Colin Swan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cswan/87743769/) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons