Whoopi: Roman Polanski Didn't Commit 'Rape-Rape'

By Soraya Roberts Posted Sep 30th 2009 12:00PM

Outspoken comedienne and 'View' co-host Whoopi Goldberg has come out to defend filmmaker Roman Polanski, claiming that he did not commit "rape-rape."

Goldberg was responding to the director's arrest in Switzerland on Saturday for a 30-year-old rape conviction. Polanski is facing extradition to the US after having fled the country in 1978 following his conviction, which involved a 13-year-old model.

On a recent episode of her talk show, 'The View,' Goldberg said she believed the incident that took place at Jack Nicholson's house in 1977 was misrepresented.

"It was something else but I don't believe it was rape-rape," she said. "We're a different kind of society, we see things differently. Would I want my 14 year old having sex? Not necessarily, no."

Goldberg's co-host, Sherri Shepherd, tweeted her disagreement by supporting victim Samantha Geimer, formerly Gailey.

"Whew... long day at The View... two shows today... hot debate over the Statutory Rapist Polanski. 45 year old man plies a 13yr old w/drugs and Liquor and penetrates her w/o her consent is a RAPIST," Shepherd tweeted. "We hunt down 75 year old Nazis. We must protect our children."

Several Hollywood stars have taken a page from Goldberg's book and come out to support Polanski. Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen are among a group of celebrities who have signed a petition objecting to the director's arrest. Over 100 people – including Tilda Swinton, David Lynch and Terry Gilliam - have signed the document that calls for 76-year-old's release from the Swiss jail where he is currently being held.

France's Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers, which supports the petitioners, released the following statement: "The arrest of Roman Polanski in a neutral country, where he assumed he could travel without hindrance... opens the way for actions of which no one can know the effects. It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event, paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to apprehend him."

Polanski's lawyers have petitioned for the Swiss courts to release the director from custody and protect him from US extradition. They want Polanski - who lives in Paris and holds dual Polish and French citizenship - to either be able to post bail or be put under house arrest at his Swiss chalet.

Polanski pled guilty in 1977 to the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. The 44-year-old had been taking photographs of Samantha Geimer, then 13, for French Vogue when he gave her champagne and a sedative. Despite her protests, Polanski allegedly proceeded to perform oral sex, intercourse and sodomy on the young girl.

Geimer recently told the world that she has forgiven Polanski for his actions, but not the press for scandalizing the case.

Tags: rape, roman polanski, RomanPolanski, the view, TheView, view, whoopi goldberg, WhoopiGoldberg

Comments

(16)

Wednesday 30 September

By way3110

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Rape is rape, regardless.
Celebrities neither make nor enforce the law. Sure it was a long time ago and mores as well as morals change.
He pleaded guilty under the advice of a lawyer and knew the consequences of the plea. He then subsequently fled, brave man.
Perhaps he feared the prison population.
Goldberg - who is she? Last I knew she was an habitue of Star Trek - a really good, innovative programme. I dont think "the View " is "her show", or is it the populist answer to the cracker barrel.

By Sherrie Malisch

Wooppii is an IDIOT. RAPE-RAPE?????

By Tom

Polanski admitted his guilt 30 years ago. Let the law proceed. This is not a Hollywood fairy tale.

By Deanna

I have to say I am floored that Whoopi can make the statement "It wasn't rape - rape." I wasn't aware there was another name for vaginal, and oral penetration against someones will ??? Maybe I'm missing something here, but it shouldn't matter how long ago this happened. An adult male fed alcohol and drugs to a 13 year old girl and then performed oral sex, vaginal penetration, and he sodomized her ! and because he's a good director or well liked he should get away with it. Maybe while he's in prison someone could do all of those things to him and then we can ask him if 45 days of jail time would be enough ??? My God ! Why are people supporting this man !

Sunday 04 October

By Denese Clinton

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AMEN SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Dave Schmidt

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Deanna, you have chosen your words wisely. As a mid-40's male, I also cannot believe the amount of women who are supporting this pervert and rapist! Where are the feminist groups who should be screaming at the top of their lungs? No adult, not male or female should be able to pry a young teenager with alcohol and drugs, then take sexual advantage of them. I don't care if the person is a movie director, or the Pope himself. Jail and castration!

I agree with Deanna!!!!! This is horrible that people in the entertainment world would condone this behavior. They fight for the rights of animals but not for young girls who are raped, yes, raped by men after being given alcohol and drugs. What is wrong with with all of you? He is a criminal!!!!! Would you leave your under age daughters alone with him? And if he had sex with them with or without their consent would you consider it not rape-rape or just a good time for all? Someone needs to get a grip on life here.

By Beeper Gie

There cannot be a different set of laws for celebrities. If he had been a construction worker, mailman, or from any other profession, the same celebrities supporting him would be calling for his head!

By G

Whoopi, like Rosie O'Donnel, needs to leave your show.... she has little respect for human dignity. It appears as though it's all about listening to her as opposed to her providing listeners with something of interest.

Whoopi isn't a cohost, cohost.

I have lost all respect for Whoopi Goldberg, and the rest of these 'so-called' movie stars and such who are supporting this admitted rapist. What an absolute shame! For an adult to drug and rape a young 13 year old girl, the man should be castrated and then jailed. Whoopi, you've lost your marbles. You and every other woman who supports this rapist should be ashamed. How dare you!! So its o'k for every adult in America to find a young teenager, pry her with booze and drugs and then take sexual advantage of her? Looks like the old saying is still true; its better to be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and take away all doubt.

Thursday 01 October

By Tordenvar Martin

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To advocate castration for a crime that happened thirty years ago, and that you don't know the details of is as ignorant as the alledged crime itself. Who knows what really happened? Certainly not you. Our legal system is bogus at best, and personally I have observed police to be notorious liars, ready to convict merely to inflate their number of felonies. He needs a new trial at least. If the victim wants one only, and she doesn't.

By Mary Anne Lawless

He should have taken his punishment at the time he admitted guilt instead of cowardly running. He cowardedly drugged and raped a child, ran away because he feared for his safety and now a pathetic old man he cries and begs for mercy. Where was his mercy? Toss him in the pen.

By diana

I guess my first response was too risky for here. So let me ask again. Whoopie, just what do you call givin a young girl alcohol and drugs, then forcing her to have sex and be sodemized? Um, I call that rape!
Whimp needs to face his punishment. It doesn't matter that the victim now forgives him. He needs to do his time like any other rapist out there. He is no better than them and just what does that say to them? Oh we only punish the unknown or not famous rapists?

By Catherine

Although I am Canadian.......in this country when a male plies a 13 yearold "child" with drugs and alcohol and forces said "child" in to a sexual encounter and sodomizes said "child" it is called RAPE. There are no "IFS" "ANDS" or "BUTS" about it. RAPE is RAPE, the sooner Ms. Goldberg realizes this, the better for this woman. Does not matter whether Roman Polanski is a famous individual, rape is rape. You do the crime, You do the time, simple as that.

Saturday 03 October

By Coco

I had mad respect for Whoopi until this came out. Her comment is ridiculous. He drugged and plied her with alcohol, then took pictures and had sex with a 13 year old. A 13 year old is a 13 year old, even if she was begging for sex. HE was the adult and he raped her.

By yone

Woody Allen has been raping his own daughter for years .. what gives?

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