# What celebrities have spoken out AGAINST Roman Polanski? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227 "2009-10-01T13:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/21 "2009-10-02T02:15:32Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Why Tilda Swinton in particular? I don’t know much about her, but is she a feminist icon or something? Tilda Swinton was just the person I was most surprised by and saddened to find on the pro-Polanski list. I don’t think I’m qualified to call her a feminist icon or anything, but she’s not the sort of person I’d expected to see on the list. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/22 "2009-10-02T03:54:06Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I distinctly remember when he won for that movie and people jumped to their feet in the audience. Jack Nicholson was (for some reason) sitting next to Nicholas Cage and tried to pull him to his feet and he stayed sitting. > > Streep, Nicholson… almost everyone was clapping wildly. > > Angelica Huston stayed seated. They made a point to show her I seem to recall Nick Nolte pointedly remaining seated. My memory may be fuzzy, plus given his own actions he may not be wanted on any team. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/23 "2009-10-02T09:42:40Z")
> [@foxymoron](#): > > Oh, you are correct! I mushed the two events together in my head. And having just watched a clip of Polanski’s win on YouTube (with no Harris or Madigan in sight), I thank you for posting and clearing up my confusion. 🙂 [Elia Kazan’s honorary Academy Award](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YziNNCZeNs). Amy Madigan and Ed Harris remain defiantly seated and not applauding at 1:38. Well, aren’t they holier than thou. I think Jim Carrey is on Harris’s right, applauding but seated. Grim-faced Nick Nolte and Liam Neeson at 2:05. Seated but applauding: Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw (1:37) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/24 "2009-10-02T12:29:13Z")
[LIFE.com](http://www.life.com/image/88578533/in-gallery/34352/stars-who-support-roman-polanski) has a gallery of his supporters. They fall into two specific groups: directors and non-US actresses. The groups are oddly specific. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/25 "2009-10-02T14:52:46Z")
On last night’s Leno, Jay and Chris Rock were going on about how stupid Hollywood was acting for supporting a rapist. Rock said he has been touring for many years, and has never come across a hot 13 year old; suggesting Roman is a big ol’ sicko. (He then made a funny joke about not blasting Kanye because rappers diss you in their songs as retaliation, and that there are too many words that rhyme with “Rock”!) > [@Stephe96](#): > > I’m wondering if there might be a sort of reverse-blacklisting in Hollywood against any celebrity who _didn’t_ sign the petition supporting Polanski. I doubt it. I think there are probably many in Hollywood who are not that opposed to the prosecution, but are silent because they don’t want people to think they are right wing. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/26 "2009-10-02T15:01:26Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > I doubt it. I think there are probably many in Hollywood who are not that opposed to the prosecution, but are silent because they don’t want people to think they are right wing. Jesus. So condemning a child rapist is now considered “right wing?” What in the living fuck has happened to the LEFT wing in that case? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/27 "2009-10-02T15:22:12Z")
Could someone create a list of everyone in the entertainment industry that has specifically supported or opposed Polanski in the matter of his extradiction? It appears to me that in fact the list would show that (1) there is a small set of American entertainers who have opposed Polanski in this matter, (2) there is a slightly larger set of American entertainers who have supported Polanski in this matter, and (3) there is a much larger set of non-American entertainers who have nearly all supported Polanski. (And, of course, there is a vastly larger number of American entertainers who have made no comment.) So this is not a matter of what “Hollywood” thinks at all, it appears to me. If I’m correct, this is mostly a matter of non-American (and mostly French, I think) entertainers opposed to what they claim is Americans interfering with someone who has been allowed by the French government to stay in France. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/28 "2009-10-02T15:27:49Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Jesus. So condemning a child rapist is now considered “right wing?” What in the living fuck has happened to the LEFT wing in that case? Swallowed up by the Catholic Church. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/29 "2009-10-02T16:09:02Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > On last night’s Leno, Jay and Chris Rock were going on about how stupid Hollywood was acting for supporting a rapist. Rock said he has been touring for many years, and has never come across a hot 13 year old; suggesting Roman is a big ol’ sicko. > > (He then made a funny joke about not blasting Kanye because rappers diss you in their songs as retaliation, and that there are too many words that rhyme with “Rock”!) > > I doubt it. I think there are probably many in Hollywood who are not that opposed to the prosecution, but are silent because they don’t want people to think they are right wing. I would actually think wanting to prosecute him would be a left wing cause, as letting him go would mean that anyone with enough money and prestige could effectively outmaneuver the system. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/30 "2009-10-02T19:50:02Z")
Almodovar supports him? Pedro ALMODOVAR?!?! Who was molested by a priest as a kid? HE wants Polanski off the hook? WTFF?! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/31 "2009-10-03T00:23:55Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I would actually think wanting to prosecute him would be a left wing cause, as letting him go would mean that anyone with enough money and prestige could effectively outmaneuver the system. No, no, you have your system messed up. If you’re a businessman with money and power then helping them avoid prosecution is right wing. If you’re an artist with money and power then helping them avoid prosecution is left wing. Unless of course they’re a member of that group who donated heavily to the other side in which case the thing reverses. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/32 "2009-10-03T17:06:58Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Jesus. So condemning a child rapist is now considered “right wing?” What in the living fuck has happened to the LEFT wing in that case? It isn’t the normal left wing. It’s the Hollywood left wing. The rules are completly different!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/33 "2009-10-03T17:40:31Z")
Ed Bernero, producer of _Criminal Minds_, has posted some pretty strong words about the whole deal. [http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ebernero/2009/10/02/polanski-apologists-dont-speak-for-all-of-us-in-hollywood/](http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ebernero/2009/10/02/polanski-apologists-dont-speak-for-all-of-us-in-hollywood/) > [@](#): > > Polanski Apologists Don’t Speak for All of Us in Hollywood > by Ed Bernero > Enough. > > Anyone who would sign a petition demanding release of a fugitive child rapist is actively hurting a business I love and DOES NOT speak for all of the entertainment industry. America needs to know that by viewing/buying our product, the public is not supporting these views. > > Our industry is made up mostly of hard working, decent people who believe in this country and the justice system. I strongly feel that one of the bigger reasons for the decline in film and television is that the public, our customer base, has simply had enough of Hollywood. And I don’t blame them. > > I have a question for those supporting Roman Polanski: Is there no line? Is there no line at which you won’t blindly support someone? He’s an artist? So what? Charles Manson was a decent guitar player. Hitler could paint. Roman Polanski is a good director. So-the-hell what? This man drugged and anally raped a thirteen-year-old girl. The transcript of her testimony can be found online. Read it. It should horrify you. > [snipped] > I gratefully added my name to BigHollywood’s petition. Grateful for the chance to tell my customers, the public, that we in Hollywood are not all immoral. We are not all valueless. We are not all possessed by the kind of moral relativism that would excuse raping a child because “Chinatown” was a good film. He was a cop for 10 years, so this is not really surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Never\_Say\_Dice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee59a6/32.png) [@Never\_Say\_Dice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Say_Dice)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/34 "2009-10-03T17:44:52Z")
Like the Michael Jackson situation, I wonder why the mother set the kid up. Was she looking for extortion money? Was the girl already experienced? Was the mother an escort training her daughter? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/35 "2009-10-03T18:10:09Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > On last night’s Leno, Jay and Chris Rock were going on about how stupid Hollywood was acting for supporting a rapist. Rock said he has been touring for many years, and has never come across a hot 13 year old; suggesting Roman is a big ol’ sicko. > . Right. I was glad to hear Chris Rock say it. I think he said(paraphrasing), “So, why do we forgive him? He made a few good movies?” ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/36 "2009-10-03T19:31:21Z")
Joy Behar was on the Daily Show Thursday night, and the topic came up briefly (mostly in relation to Whoopi’s comments on The View). Jon Stewart said something like (paraphrasing here, based on memory) that when you look at the definition of rape, what Polanski did fits. So I think you can add Stewart to this list, although he’s not as vocal as others. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/37 "2009-10-03T19:41:23Z")
Bill Maher went after Polanski pretty frontally last night, and his entire panel (including Richard Dawkins and Janine Garafalo) agreed with him. Garafalo was also annoyed at characterizations that “Hollywood” is supporting Polanski because she says that plenty in Hollywood did _not_ sign that petition and do _not_ support Polanski. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/38 "2009-10-03T19:46:15Z")
“Right wing” has got nothing to do with. Since when is the left wing pro-child rape? I suspect that most of them just don’t really know the facts of the case. They think it’s just about Polanski nailing an underaged girl. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/39 "2009-10-03T20:02:41Z")
[“The widespread support for Polanski . . . shows the liberal cultural elite at its preening, fatuous worst. . . . No wonder Middle America hates them.”](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704471504574448033489885784.html) ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227/40 "2009-10-03T20:28:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I suspect that most of them just don’t really know the facts of the case. They think it’s just about Polanski nailing an underaged girl. Yeah, I had always thought he just had (consensual) sex with a minor. I never knew any of the real details, that she was drugged and it was forced, until this past week. (Not that I had any interest in the case before. I would only hear vague references to it by comedians or celebrities or whatever.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-have-spoken-out-against-roman-polanski/512227.md?page=3)