Hachette employees walk out in protest of decision to publish Woody Allen memoir

Employees at Hachette Book Group walked off the job Thursday in response to the firm’s planned publication of Woody Allen’s memoir.

Discontent has been stirring in the company since the announcement that Hachette imprint Grand Central Publishing would publish the book, “Apropos of Nothing,” with the walkout coming after Ronan Farrow, whose book “Catch and Kill” was published by a Hachette imprint, publicly blasted the company, the Daily Beast reported.

Farrow’s sister Dylan, Allen’s adopted daughter, has accused Allen of sexually assaulting her, which Allen has denied. Farrow has publicly backed his sister’s allegations.

“Your policy of editorial independence among your imprints does not relieve you of your moral and professional obligations as the publisher of ‘Catch and Kill,’ and as the leader of a company being asked to assist in efforts by abusive men to whitewash their crimes,” Farrow said in an email to Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch, according to the publication.

“Obviously I can’t in good conscience work with you any more,” Farrow added. “Imagine this were your sister.”

Staff at the imprint that published “Catch and Kill,” Little, Brown and Co., circulated a memo about the walkout Thursday, saying staffers would “stand with Ronan and Dylan Farrow and survivors of sexual assault.”

“I’ve encouraged Hachette, out of respect for its readers, authors and reputation, to conduct a thorough fact check of Woody Allen’s account, in particular any claim that implies my sister is not telling the truth,” Farrow said in a statement.

“I’ve also told Hachette that a publisher that would conduct itself in this way is one I can’t work with in good conscience,” he added.

Hey, just wanted to share my thoughts on some recent news: pic.twitter.com/ovPczgx8pB

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) March 4, 2020

The Hill has reached out to Little, Brown and Co. for comment.