It's clear that Whoopi Goldberg isn't alone in her belief that what Roman Polanski did to a thirteen-year-old girl in 1977 wasn't that serious, for a growing list of Hollywood's "finest" are coming out in support of the film director while campaigning for his release.
For those unfamiliar, Goldberg said on ABC's "The View" Monday that what Polanski did "wasn't rape-rape."
Now, according to the British Telegraph, others in Tinseltown are offering their support for this child molester:
More than 100 film industry figures have now signed a petition calling for the release of Polanski, the acclaimed director of Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby and The Pianist.
They include leading Hollywood figures Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen, David Lynch, Wim Wenders, Pedro Almodovar, Tilda Swinton and Monica Bellucci.
One celebrity supporter, the actress Debra Winger, said it was a "three-decades-old case that is dead but for minor technicalities. We stand by him and await his release and his next masterpiece." Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein said Polanski was a "humanist" who had been the victim of a "miscarriage of justice". He said: "We will have to speak to our leaders, particularly in California. I'm not too shy to go and talk to the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and to ask him once and for all to look at this." However, the views of the Hollywood elite seemed out of step with those of ordinary Americans and they now face a backlash.
How out of step are such folk?
On the Los Angeles Times website only one in 30 comments from members of the public supported Polanski and most called for him to face justice.
When your views are supported by three percent of the public, THAT's out of step.
Update [NB Staff]: Our friends at Big Hollywood are keeping track of this, with a list of those who signed the Polanski petition here.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
What is missed by the left
September 30, 2009 - 08:57 ET by BDWhat is missed by the left is that not only did Polanski commit one crime (Rape) but he committed a second one by absconding.
Lets make the Left happy... Sentance him to probation for Rape (Which for some reason they don ot seem to mind oddly).
Then give him twenty years for fleeing prior to sentencing.
I'm not suprised....
September 30, 2009 - 09:11 ET by Gecks....and I'm sure that ANYONE who supports this child molester is more than willing to offer thier young daughters up to a child rapist. Famous or not. Come on. Why not? They don't seem to think there is a damn thing wrong with what he did.
I am sympathetic that this man has had a tragic life, but that is no excuse for what he did, and no reason that he should not face justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. His victim has forgiven him, but he still needs to pay his debt to society.
This is right up there with people who socialize with Bill Ayers. He is a terrorist, yet people forgive him.
O.J. Simpson was found "not guilty" by a jury, but that doesn't mean I'm would sit down and have dinner with him.
Gecks
"Your right to Life, Liberty, and the Persuit of Happiness ends at my front door, and my wallet!"-Me!
According to hollywierd...
September 30, 2009 - 09:15 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonDrugging and raping 13 year old little girls is perfectly acceptable.
In fact, probably preferable since that would alleviate the effort of convincing an adult woman who is wise to the ways of disgusting, dirty old men in order to get laid.
Then, when the ugly arm of the law rears it's 'ugly' head, running away and hiding in safe places where they can live lives they desire in freedom from being held accountable for their crimes.
How many European girls in the 9-13 year old range have discovered the wonders of this persons seductive ways?
http://gjresult.com
oh how the sick show themselves
September 30, 2009 - 09:20 ET by jon_torlinI'm not surprised by some of the names, but I am surprised and disappointed to see Winger and Belucci apparently in support.
Show of hands for the ladies on here, how many of you when you were 13 years old would wanted to have been drugged/made intoxicated and then have an older guy take advantage of you any way he wanted to, regardless of how you feel about it?
How many ladies approve or care about that sort of thing? There's three possible emotions to the sort of thing above, 1) you despise and find revulsion in this person who did the crime; 2) you don't care; or 3) you approve of it. I can't possibly imagine any other kind of answer to this sort of thing, not in my nature.
-Jon
It's probably not helping
September 30, 2009 - 09:27 ET by Kat Outta the BagIt's probably not helping your case when Woody Allen signs a petition saying you shouldn't pay for your sex crime against a minor.
I know in Hollywierd
September 30, 2009 - 09:32 ET by GlitchI know in Hollywierd forcing anal sex on a drugged girl a quarter of your age is old hat, let's face it thats how half of these peoples careers got started, but in the real world that is a crime. What bothers me the most is why we are just now doing something about this. Polanski has been roaming around extridition treaty countries for years making his crappy movies. It is a sad day when the Swiss are the ones to carry out American justice.
Do not command that which you cannot enforce.
Didn't Hollywood support Tookie too?
September 30, 2009 - 09:34 ET by JWFTookie didn't really kill-kill after all.
Don't Hollywood also support Mumia the cop killer?
Yea, real good track record this bunch
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
Only part of Hollywood supports this rapist
September 30, 2009 - 09:37 ET by shawn228.....not all of Hollywood. Just like the majority of 911 truthers are liberal, the majority of liberals are not 911 truthers.
"I have a Bush man-crush, you need to understand."-Mr. Shy
Pedophilia Chic?
September 30, 2009 - 09:56 ET by slickwillie2001Are the Hollywood glitterati trying to normalize pedophilia? Is the gay community with them on this? Think about this:
Pedophilia Chic? http://corner.nationalreview.com
slick--
September 30, 2009 - 10:06 ET by Kat Outta the BagWhen God finally decides to drop-kick this planet, I'm convinced His big toe is going to aim for Hollywood.
that's not the aim for kicking...
September 30, 2009 - 17:08 ET by UndercoverConservativeif God were to give the planet an enema, Hollywoodis where He'd shove in the hose.
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
left out a movie
September 30, 2009 - 13:06 ET by jon_torlinThe article left out a movie that was very controversial(to say the least) with Dakota Fanning, Hounddog.
Yeah, aim for Hollywood first.
-Jon
In related news, Pol Pot
September 30, 2009 - 10:08 ET by Ruths husband BenIn related news, Pol Pot didn't commit genocide-genocide and Willie Sutton didn't commit bank robbery-bank robbery.
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho
Great intel, but
September 30, 2009 - 10:12 ET by black47211Great intel, but unfortunately so cliched and expected. Hollywood is nothing short of liberal la-la land, full of all classes of depravities and immoralities.
These folks who support this rapist...I will simply say I wouldn't want to be them when they have to face Jesus. Nope.
Woe to them who call evil, "good" and good, "evil".
http://www.pelicanmarsh68.blogspot.com
Citizen Commentators Unite!
It seems to me that anyone
September 30, 2009 - 10:16 ET by fitzfongIt seems to me that anyone who went to the trouble of working with this creep in the aftermath of his fleeing justice tacitly endorsed his criminal behavior. So far, Adrien Brody hasn't signed this, but in my book, he signed it years ago...then got his Oscar, rarely to be heard from again. The people have spoken.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
you folks in Cali.
September 30, 2009 - 10:23 ET by JIMMY1660get the legislator to rescind all pedophile laws. no lets do one better.
take all the laws off the books-its a free for all. no rules, just do it cause it feels good.
take all the traffic laws down-rid yourselves of all the police and firemen while your at it.
have fun.
BHO- THE PROGRESSIVE PIRATE
no rulse?
September 30, 2009 - 17:09 ET by UndercoverConservativeI hope we can throw out all local and Federal gun control activities over the last century, and get rid of enviro and speed limits too..Road Warrior and automatic weapons for all! :)
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
Should never have happened...,
September 30, 2009 - 10:51 ET by CarlosSNone of this would have ever happened if the government provided ACORN sponsored brothels with teenaged Honduran girls for the Hollyweirdos...
<sarc off>
wow
September 30, 2009 - 10:57 ET by rowdygirlIt's amazing what passes for common and acceptable behavior in Hollywood. Makes me wonder (and shudder to think) what else is going on out there if these idiots think that child rape is no big deal.
Well,
September 30, 2009 - 11:27 ET by oldmanateesince most out there thought it was ok for Michael Jackson to drug and rape a 13 year old boy...
See they do believe in equal opportunity.
BTW, read the list of famous actors that signed the petition, other than Woody Allen, never heard of any of them.
Uh, They NEVER Convicted Micahel Jackson Because He Was Innocent
September 30, 2009 - 23:47 ET by The7SticksUnlike this Polanski "nontroversy", Michael Jackson was accused by unsavory participants who either hated Jackson because he seemed to be a self-hating black man trying to change his skin color to white (I don't think that was the case since I've noticed LaToya Jackson's been looking a lot paler lately) or because they just hated that he was rich and did good things to help kids in Africa. He was never found guilty, so there was no point to lock him up.
your mom was guilty
October 1, 2009 - 00:08 ET by JWFThat is why we took her medicine away and then beat her with Michael Jackson collector dolls.
One celebrity supporter,
September 30, 2009 - 12:43 ET by Kat Outta the BagOne celebrity supporter, the actress Debra Winger, said it was a "three-decades-old case that is dead but for minor technicalities. We stand by him and await his release and his next masterpiece."
So that's why they love him...he's a child rapist who makes masterpieces. And what, may we ask, are the "minor technicalities" she speaketh of? The fact that he admitted he drugged and raped a child? People like Winger make me sick.
Is Debra Winger
September 30, 2009 - 13:00 ET by carolina09the only woman to support Polanski?
I'm old enought to remember Winger whining about how she was treated badly by the sexists who produced and acted in "An Officer and a Gentleman." Now she's a shill for child rape.
I think the best thing about this Polanski List is how it's full of dirty old Hollywood men. And they signed their names. What idiots.
not the only one
September 30, 2009 - 13:08 ET by jon_torlinRemember, WGoldberg is as well"it wasn't rape-rape!", and MBelluci's name was mentioned. I still can't believe that one, thought she was better than that.
-Jon
Apparently not. "I spent
September 30, 2009 - 13:08 ET by fitzfongApparently not.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
not many I know
September 30, 2009 - 13:22 ET by jon_torlinI only recognized about 8 names out of there, Beluuci being one of them along with Allen. I'm harping about her case because she's a good actress and a damn good looking woman, but I guess the fact that she supports this guy means I won't watch a movie with her in it, at least not on purpose.
I think it's safe to say a lot of those names are a bunch of euro-libs with very little value of life.
-Jon
No, I'd say that the only
September 30, 2009 - 13:36 ET by fitzfongNo, I'd say that the only American actors/directors/producers that will weigh in on Polanski's behalf are those who feel they have nothing to lose like Scorcese (he's past it), Weinstein (he's the money guy who thinks he holds the key for all "independent" actors/films to get anywhere...so nobody will "cross" him) and Winger (decades removed from her peak of fame, needs any legal excuse to get noticed). I doubt you'll see the likes of Harrison Ford and Adrien Brody publicly standing up for Polanski like Warren Beatty, Karl Malden and Rod Steiger did for Elia Kazan.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
so how would she like it?
September 30, 2009 - 17:14 ET by UndercoverConservativeI fear many Hollywood women supporting this b@stard are thinking his activities were less kinky and perverted than older actresses need to submit to to keep their careers...
Or it's jealousy that some big name director isn't coming over with drugs and demanding to PIITB with them too.
Either way. Seriously fooked up.
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
Debra Winger is a has-been
September 30, 2009 - 14:47 ET by samhermanmdDebra Winger is a has-been who acts like my attention-seeking borderline personality disorder patients. Since there is no attention on her at the moment, she'll say something outrageous just to generate attention. She could have posed nude for Playboy (not that anyone would want to see that!), or she could have come out in public with a whole truckload of dirty laundry like Mackenzie Phillips with some tell-all book. No, Debra has to say something so outrageous that even the New York Times finds the idea of freeing Roman Polanski repulsive. Shows you how low Debbie sunk for publicity.
About an hour ago I was
September 30, 2009 - 15:46 ET by Kat Outta the BagAbout an hour ago I was driving in my car and was flipping around radio stations when I came upon the local talk radio station. The host is usually very liberal in his view of things and I was pleasantly surprised to hear him saying that Polanski should face the music for his actions. He said that this is about the State of California enforcing it's laws and that basically everyone else should butt out.
we're a nation of laws
September 30, 2009 - 15:50 ET by katainkentit's good that some people still get that.
____________________________________________
The Emperor, he has no clothes
If You Ask Me, I Think You People Get A Thrill From Child Rape..
October 1, 2009 - 00:02 ET by The7SticksAnybody who spends this much time whining about a child rape incident that hasn't happened since 1977 must really get a thrill out of child rape. I'm not saying that you people would want to engage in such a heinous crime, but I do believe you are so convinced that a sexual predator epidemic exists that you will do anything to justify it. And you'll do so by either wasting my time and my money as a taxpayer to foot the bill to extradite some loser from Europe to face a trial on something that happened 30 years ago, or that ridiculous Jessica's Law that is bankrupting the state of California back to the Stone Age to pay the security guard unions, the prison guard unions and those ankle bracelets and registration directories the security companies peddle to suck my tax money into to make themselves rich and make the actual problem of sex offenders even worse. I'm sorry, but you conservatives are about as brainless at solving this kind of problem as the liberals who support Roman Polanski.
No, we got a thrill from smacking your mom around in prison.
October 1, 2009 - 00:11 ET by JWFWe will gladly pay lots of tax money to lock up more of your relatives and steal their medicine for our own personal use.
I was rebuked by QueenMum earlier... where is she now to defend
October 1, 2009 - 01:23 ET by pahuberyou?
You are the type of person(s) that bring down this site... but no sign of queen mum or the admins to bring you down.
I am so happy to have served in the USN to have your voice heard and defended /s
Perhaps you may want to make friends with QueenMum since she is able to get others post to disapear when she is called on such asinine comments.
Paul
your post
October 1, 2009 - 12:02 ET by katainkentmakes absolutely no sense except that you seem to think that 30 yrs is adequeate enough time to 'get over' being raped and molested by a pig drunk ***hole.
this is a nation of laws - and that ***hole broke. the. law.
ps. As I explained to azzipper. "Sorry" & "but" cancel each other out.
It's still early, but
October 1, 2009 - 00:14 ET by Jerfrankly, I was struck--as well as pleasantly surprised--by the lack of recognizable celebrity/Hollywood names attached to the petition supporting Polanski.
Jer
Jer
October 1, 2009 - 14:44 ET by Noel SheppardJer,
Please tell me you were joking:
If you don't recognize these names, you don't watch many movies. ns
Noel...
October 1, 2009 - 15:46 ET by JerI'm tempted to do so, just because you asked so nicely. But it would be dishonest of me since, alas, I was not joking.
I should note, however, that immediately after posting I did briefly consider editing my comment to supplant "lack" with "paucity", "dearth" or some other term to make clear my intent was not to suggest there were none [of the recognizable Hollywood/celebrity names] supporting Polanski via the petition, but rather surprisingly few.
I continue to stand by that observation. [And yes--even though I don't watch nearly as many movies these days--I do recognize all of those names.]
All the best, Jer