Roman Polanski. (AP File photo)
Many of Hollywood’s elite have signed a letter asking for the immediate release of Oscar-winning director, Roman Polanski, 76, who was convicted of raping 13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977. Polanski was arrested on September 26 in Switzerland, and now awaits extradition to the United States.
To date,138 actors, directors, and producers have signed the letter which decries: “Roman Polanski is a French citizen, a renown and international artist now facing extradition. This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will take away his freedom.”
Notable signatories include Woody Allen, Martin Scorcese, David Lynch, Debra Winger, Diane von Furstenberg, Harvey Weinstein, and Terry Gilliam.
Some of the more laughable quotes from Hollywood’s big wigs follow:
Producer Harvey Weinstein told the L.A. Times: “We are rallying every filmmaker we can to fix this terrible situation. Whatever you think about the so-called crime, Polanski has served his time.”
While hosting The View, Whoopi Goldberg claimed that Polanski had not really committed “rape-rape.”
Lastly, this bit of drama from Debra Winger, saying of Polanski’s situation: “The whole art world suffers in such an arrest.”
While his Hollywood friends and admirers may believe that Roman Polanski is innocent, or that his Academy Award winning work somehow excludes him from our laws and common decency, the fact is that Polanski committed a violent rape, and has been living as a fugitive for the last 31 years.
Polanski drugged his13-year-old victim, then raped and sodomized her for hours.
Though Hollywood wants us to forget the sickening details of the case, a reexamination of the facts, shows just why Polanski should spend the rest of his life inside a prison cell.
On March 10, 1977, Polanski picked up the girl and drove her to the home of Jack Nicholson, for a supposed photo shoot. Nicholson was away at the time.
Polanski gave her champagne and a Quaalude, and the two, both naked, got into the hot tub together.
What follows is an excerpt from the transcript of the grand jury testimony in The People of the State of California v. Roman Raymond Polanski, taken on March 24, 1977.
“Q: What happened then?
A: He goes, 'Come down here.' And I said, 'No. No, I got to get out.' And he goes, 'No, come down here.' And then I said that I had asthma and that I couldn't — I had to get out because of the warm air and the cold air or something like that. And he said, 'Just come down here for a second.' So I finally went down. And then he went — there was a lot of Whirlpool bath jets. He goes, 'Doesn't it feel better down here?' And he was like holding me up because it is almost over my head. And I went, 'Yeah, but I better get out.' So I got out.
The victim testified that after she left the whirlpool bath, Polanski told her to go into a nearby bedroom and lie down.
A: I was going, 'No, I think I better go home,' because I was afraid. So I just went and I sat down on the couch.
Q: What were you afraid of?
A: Him. He sat down beside me and asked me if I was OK.
Q: What did you say, if anything?
A: I said, 'No.'
Q: What did he say?
A: He goes, 'Well, you'll be better.' And I go, 'No, I won't. I have to go home.'
Q: What happened then?
A: He reached over and he kissed me. And I was telling him, 'No,' you know, 'Keep away.'
After Polanski kissed her, the girl claimed he began to engage in oral sex.
A: ... I was ready to cry. I was kind of — I was going, 'No. Come on. Stop it.' But I was afraid.
Q: And what did he say, if anything?
A: He wasn't saying anything that I can remember. He was — sometimes he was saying stuff, but I was just blocking him out, you know.
The girl testified that Polanski started having sex with her, but sodomized her instead, when he discovered she was not on birth control.
A: He asked, he goes, 'Are you on the pill?' And I went, 'No.' And he goes, 'When did you last have your period?' And I said, I don't know. A week or two. I'm not sure.'
Q: And what did he say?
A: He goes, 'Come on. You have to remember.' And I told him I didn't.
Q: Did he say anything after that?
A: Yes. He goes, 'Would you want me to go through your back? And I went, 'No.'
Afterwards, she got dressed and waited in the car for Polanski to drive her back home. She testified that before leaving, he asked her to keep the ordeal a secret.
A: He said to me, he goes, 'Oh, don't tell your mother about this.' ...
Q: What did you say?
A: I wasn't saying anything. He says, 'Don't tell your mother about this and don't tell your boyfriend either.' ... He said something like, 'This is our secret.' And I went, 'Yeah.' And then later he said, 'You know, when I first met you I promised myself I wouldn't do anything like this with you.'“
Polanski was 44-years-old at the time of the rape. He was charged with furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, lewd or lascivious act on a child under 14, unlawful sexual intercourse with a female under the age of 18, rape by use of drugs, and sodomy.
Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor but fled the country in 1978, prior to sentencing. There were both outstanding U.S. and international warrants for his arrest. For years, he was very careful not to travel to countries that have an extradition treaty with the U.S.
At the time of his arrest, Polanski was in Switzerland for a Zurich film festival, at which he was to be given the Golden Icon Award.
*Reporter’s note: Hollywood celebrities often seem to be somehow detached from reality, their support for a rapist is not only an example of that detachment, but of their ignorance and hypocrisy as well.
Are we to believe that if it had been Roman Polanski-production assistant, instead of the director of “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” who raped and abused that little girl that the likes of Martin Scorcese and Whoopi Goldberg would care if he went to jail?
I wonder if Debra Winger would lament over the “whole art world” suffering, if it had been her own daughter raped and sodomized by Polanski? I suppose that since it happened to a ‘nobody,’ it’s excusable.
Hollywood’s reaction to Polanski’s long-overdue arrest truly displays the very sick and twisted nature of that town and the movie-making industry itself. Given their adoration for a monster such as Polanski, it is little wonder why graphic sex and violence fill most of the mindless big screen productions today.
Roman Polanski committed a vicious rape on a child. Whether the crime took place 32 years ago, or last week, this disgusting man must be punished. Hopefully, time will be added to his sentence for the years he spent fleeing from justice.
Comments
roman jewish polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with gentile minor then fled country before sentencing for over 31 years he escape from justice? 31 years and boom justice comes to life? this is bigger than jewish run ACORN SYNDICATE? next live from east coast our beloved jewish talk host david letterman ransom extortion sex scandle head line news story? but wait" the alvin bore la media journalist on human rights mission story to north korea? than boom out of nowhere comes our beloved jewish white knight hero billy clinton to the rescue? yes from east to west stories poping out left and right? thats hot one left and right? hollywood jew celebrities poping out of wood work in defence of polanski? yes celebrities like woody the worm allen? harvey weinerstein? VON furstenberg? david lynchstein? looks like a jewish hollywood blitz-kreig? gee how come none of these celerities ever get cancer? only gentile celebrities get cancer thats strange? the jew worthy interest stories live! AMEN
Everyone knows what Roman Polanski did was wrong. Unfortunately, all of the people who are outraged by what he did are wasting their time and energy. This is why: Roman Polanski is a rich, famous white man. Roman Polanski has support from scores of rich and famous people. Roman Polanski has the support of an entire nation behind him. The United States Justice system is weak and ineffectual. The United States Justice system appears to be in action now, but eventually, the United States Justice system will crumble under the pressure from Hollywood, from France and from the hundreds of affluent people that support Roman Polanski. I predict, in a few months, Roman Polanski will be skiing in Switzerland or relaxing in France. And that's that.
Frank.... Polanski deserves to be UNDER A PRISON.... YOU ARE AN IDIOT
What this predator (Polanski) did to that girl, have this happen in the year 2000's, he would be praying to God for getting him a sentence of least 5 years in prison for what he's done; the crimes he has committed deserve the maximum sentencing, and Hollywood needs to step aside, this is none of their business, although it has everything to do with business, cause all of the people now defending Polanski are Hollywood's elites in search of the next big break in Hollywood; and what a shame this is!
Nobody but lamebrains are supporting this rapist.
First, there's no such thing as "rape rape".
Celebs should just stay out of politics and the law and anything else not having to do with acting.
What can we do? BOYCOTT all of these people who signed the petition. At least, they won't be getting my money to keep shooting off their mouths.
In the case of Debra Winger, you can take the troll out of Six Flags Magic Mountain, but she's still a troll. "Difficult to work with", and ultimately a flop, because she over estimated her talent. And her new claim to fame - a child rape advocate. Nice work, Debra.
I thought Debra Winger was staying out of the limelight? She and those other has-beens need to crawl back under their rocks.
Whoopi are the dreds to tight?
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