Soon-Yi Previn was around 9 or 10 years old when she first met Woody Allen in 1980.

This encounter happened shortly after Mia Farrow, Soon-Yi's adoptive mother, began dating Allen, following her divorce from André Previn, with whom she had adopted Soon-Yi from South Korea around 1977-1978. Born circa October 1970 (exact date unknown), Soon-Yi was a child at that initial meeting, and their paths crossed occasionally over the next decade as Allen was a frequent presence in Farrow's life. Their romantic relationship didn't begin until much later—Soon-Yi has stated it started when she was 21 in 1991, during her college years, though some accounts from the HBO series Allen v. Farrow suggest it may have begun earlier while she was still in high school.

Relationship Timeline

Here's a breakdown of key moments based on public accounts:

Year| Event| Soon-Yi's Approximate Age
---|---|---
1980| First meets Woody Allen through Mia Farrow| 9-10 16
1991| Romantic involvement begins (per Soon-Yi); she's at Drew University| 21 3
Jan 1992| Mia Farrow finds nude photos of Soon-Yi in Allen's apartment| 21 5
Aug 1992| Allen publicly confirms relationship amid scandal| 21-22 17
Dec 1997| They marry in Venice| 27 1

Differing Viewpoints

  • Soon-Yi's Perspective : In her rare 2018 Vulture interview, she described Allen pursuing her, feeling "valued" for the first time, and accused Farrow of emotional abuse and favoritism among her 14 kids. She emphasized their bond strengthened amid the 1992 media storm.
  • Critics and Farrow Side : Documentaries like Allen v. Farrow (2021) highlight testimony suggesting intimacy started when Soon-Yi was underage, framing it as predatory given Allen's role in the family dynamic despite never marrying Farrow. Age gap (35+ years) and power imbalance fuel ongoing debate.
  • Forum Chatter : Recent Reddit threads (e.g., 2024) still buzz with shock over photos, mixing sympathy for Soon-Yi ("she looks frightened") and defenses citing her interviews.

The story exploded in 1992 amid child molestation allegations against Allen (cleared by investigators), intertwining family trauma, Hollywood scandal, and #MeToo reevaluations. No major updates since Soon-Yi's 2018 comments, though a 2026 YouTube video recaps her silence-breaking at age 55.

TL;DR : First met at 9-10 in 1980 ; romance ~20 years later. Public sources converge on that childhood intro amid today's "Quick Scoop" gossip revival.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.