Johnny Depp Lends His Support to Roman Polanski

By Sarah Crow Posted Feb 1st 2010 04:18PM

Johnny Depp, whose support of children's charities and other worthy causes has gained him media attention in the past, is lending his name to a list that is getting him some mixed reviews. The actor has recently come out in support of Roman Polanski, who was arrested in Zurich in 2009 on charges relating to a 1977 statutory rape case.

The actor, who met Polanski while filming 1999's "The Ninth Gate," has voiced his disapproval for the way in which the judicial system has handled the director's case. In an interview with The Independent, Depp said of the arrest, "Why now? Obviously, there is something going on somewhere. Somebody has made a deal with someone. Maybe there was a little money involved, but why now?"

He added that Polanski "is not a predator. He's 75 or 76 years old. He has got two beautiful kids, he has got a wife that he has been with for a long, long time. He is not out on the street."

Depp joins a long list of entertainment industry professionals who are rallying around the director, including Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, David Lynch, Monica Bellucci, and Tilda Swinton. Harvey Weinstein has spoken out on the director's behalf, telling CNN, "We are calling every filmmaker we can to help fix this terrible situation." Weinstein told The Independent, "Whatever you think about the so-called crime, Polanski has served his time."

Polanski, who has been married to model/actress Emanuelle Seigner since 1989, has resided, and mostly remained in France since 1988, where he has been protected from extradition. Despite being under house arrest in his native country, California Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza ruled last week that Polanski must return to the United States for sentencing.

Tags: Harvey Weinstein, Johnny Depp, Roman Polanski

Comments

(240)

Monday 01 February

By Karen

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I couldn't have said it any better myself!

By Rod

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Why am I not surprised? Depp is all to happy to take money that Americans pay to to his stupid movies. He turns around and thumbs his nose as us while he lives in France, claiming the US is fubared. He can count on not getting any money from my non attendance at his movies. Hollywood loves queers, drug addicts,perverts and has beens.

By dcamp5300

I find it hard to believe that if Roman Polanski had raped Johnny Depps daughter, he would ever stop wanting him punished for the crime. A child molester is the lowest of the low and he deserves whatever punishment the court decides to give him. He should have faced his punishment at the time instead of sneaking out of the country.

Wednesday 03 February

By rp

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does ANYONE in hollywood believe in taking responsibility for their actions....or is it just," do it if it feels good "and then RUN! i'm glad that possibly polanski sees the error of his ways, but running for so many years and expecting to be cleared is absurd!!! any other non-celebrity wouild have to do the time!

By Dean

No surprise here,Johnny Depp is an anti American pervert.

By Jimmy

Polanski drugged and raped a 14 year old girl. If it was Johnny's kid, I doubt he would be supporting this. What a joke......HE DRUGGED AND RAPED A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL! NUFF SAID!

By pam

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It really has no specific bearing on the case, but do most of you even realize that Sharon Tate was Roman Polanski's wife when she was brutally murdered by the Manson's??? He lost a beautiful wife and a nearly term baby. It's not that he hasn't known tragedy and loss, but then, like I say it really has no bearing on the case, other than he probably still wasn't right in his head when he and this young girl had their supposed "consensual sex" experience.

Tuesday 02 February

By klp1213

Thirteen year olds can not consent

By cbuggababy

since when is ANY pedophile in their right mind when they act on their urges??

By snowmassey

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Medical evidence taken in form of a rape kit examination reveals no anal or vaginal trauma as seen in forcible rape or sodomy. All slides came back negative and no semen was evident.

this is what examining doctors said. is it possible the
victim was lying ?

By htcorner23

"Served his time?" Living in a villa in France is hardly "serving time." Look closely at the gutter trash that is rallying around this child molester. Hollywood is a monstrous dung heap.

By Dave

If you like this guy, great. Want to advocate that he's a model citizen these many years later, fantasctic. DO NOT go on record saying, "Whatever you think about the so-called crime, Polanski has served his time." So-called!!
Well, I think rape is a crime don't you?! So-called crime is rape!
"...served his time..."?
Well, there in lies the problem. Had he served his time like a man 33yrs ago we wouldn't be talking about him today. He ran and played "you-can't-catch-me" in a country with no extradition treaty. He enjoyed his life and thought he would be forgiven? So he wasn't. No crime there. His crimes weren't expunged!!
You also are quoted, Mr Weinstein, as saying, "We are calling every filmmaker we can to help fix this terrible situation."

Call every filmaker, writer, director and actoring core you can. Maybe you can get together and produce his sob story. The very talented Mr. Depp as the criminal, of course. But now that Dakota Fanning is getting too old to be exploited, who will play the victim? Maybe the criminal would like his daughter (if he has one) to play the role. Maybe one of his many supporters can have their under-age daughter jump at the chance?

Just a footnote, having Woody Allen speaking in your defense speaks volumes!

By Potsie1982

I think Mr. depp would singing a whole different tune about Polaski if it was kid that Polaski had raped, no mater how many years have passed or nice of a family man he is now.

By Red

Johnny Depp - You can take your movies and career and shove it up your arse. I cannot believe you are backing a child molester and this makes you just as sick as Polanski is. It is really too bad because you are a good actor but no more.........you make me sick too now along with Polanski. You would feel very differently if one of your children were molested by an adult, believe me you would and you would not be backing this pervert.

By ErinBliss

I used to respect Johnny Depp.

By ninja koala

Durr, cause he drugged and raped a 13 year old. I don't think that's forgivable, no matter how rich you are. Then showed what a chicken s**t he was a ran off to another country. He deserves to serve prison time like anyone else who has done something as heinous as that! I wonder if the same thing happened to one of Johnny Depp's children, if he'd be so willing to forgive and forget.

By Jan

So I guess when Johnny Depp's daughter is 13, it will be alright for a man in his forties to drug her and have sex with her.........

By IllbootenGOTTI

This is sort of like Sean Penn apologizing to Saddamn Hussein.

Oh and also...Kayne is a douche.

By jessica

I was thinking about Sean Penn when I read this too. I think Hollywood has too many pseudo-intellectuals who, just because they can act or look physically attractive on the screen, are viewed as persons of moral or intellectual authority. Clearly these two are neither. Depp's black framed glasses are a nice touch though in trying to pull off that persona.

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