Dov Charney hasn’t spoken to the press about the lawsuit filed against American Apparel by Woody Allen over the use of his image from the movie Annie Hall on American Apparel billboards. But last night, Charney finally spoke! Well okay — he blogged a statement. But that’s something! He wanted to correct the “numerous inaccurate reports” about the case in the media (many of them in the New York Post) that “have created misperceptions I feel compelled to correct.” He goes on to say American Apparel will not make Woody Allen’s personal life “the central focus of our defense.” He adds that American Apparel will not call Mia Farrow or Soon-Yi as witnesses.
Also:
I have deep respect for Mr. Allen who is a source of inspiration to me. The billboards and images from the Annie Hall movie were intended to be a parody/social statement and comedic satire to provoke discussion and public discourse about the baseless claims that had been made against American Apparel and myself, society’s reaction to lawsuits that delve into an individual’s private sexual life and the media’s sensationalism of such matters.
So if we understand Charney correctly, the billboard was supposed to make We the Public laugh about all those silly sexual-harassment suits filed against him and realize those were hardly stories to begin with — the media just turns them into stories. We completely see the connection. Boy, do we feel foolish for not realizing it when the billboard debuted — and even more foolish for going over a year without this enlightenment.
A Statement from Dov Charney [American Apparel]
Earlier: Woody Allen’s Lawsuit Against American Apparel Becomes a Hissy Battle of Pot and Kettle
