Whoopi Goldberg on Polanski Crime: “It Wasn’t Rape-Rape”
The internet is abuzz about a comment that Whoopi Goldberg made on ABC’s “The View” yesterday. The quote that’s getting all of the play is this out-of-context bit:
“I know it wasn’t rape-rape. It was something else but I don’t believe it was rape-rape. He went to jail and and when they let him out he was like ‘You know what, this guy’s going to give me a hundred years in jail I’m not staying,’ so that’s why he left.”
I mention the context for two reasons. First, this quote gives the impression that Whoopi was trying to create different categories of the rape experience, when she was actually trying to zero in on the correct legal term for the crime Polanski plead guilty to.
Secondly, the larger context for this quote is much, much worse than that.
Here’s the clip with the “money quote” in it:
What I find much more disturbing is that, in that clip and another one that’s posted at Jezebel, the ladies of The View engage in some terrifying “debate” about what happened to then-13-year-old Samantha Geimer. Whoopi floats the notion that rape “wasn’t the allegation,” and that the victim “was aware,” and Melissa Gilbert thinks it makes a difference that “Mom was in the building.”
What the EFF? I hate to even point out the sickeningly obvious here. First of all, “rape-rape” was the allegation. Samantha Geimer testified that she told Polanski “No!” While Polanski denies this, he loses a couple of credibility points by drugging and sodomizing a 13 year old girl. I’d say she gets the benefit of the doubt here.
Notwithstanding that, though, is that the standard of consent now, “She was aware?” Keep an eye on your drinks, ladies, because in Whoopi’s world, the right dose of rohypnol will leave you just conscious enough to have deserved it.
Finally, they debate whether Samantha’s mother should have assumed a 44 year old man would want to have sex with her 13 year old daughter, and poo-poo that prudish “age of consent” concept we have here in the States.
This goes to the heart of the question of whether Polanski should now be punished. Whatever you think of him as a director, or of the tribulations he has faced, are you prepared, as some of the View crew are, to say that this is somehow OK?
11 comments
Amazing. Absolutely amazing. A group of allegedly intelligent women sitting around grasping to justify drugging and forcibly sodomizing a 13 year old girl, and then further justifying fleeing justice.
To make it worse, they then try to somehow blame the mother in a twisted version of “she was asking for it.” Whoopi Goldberg should be ashamed of herself at the tortured language she used to try to minimize this crime. Aren’t these the same women that lament the treatment of 13 year old girls in third world countries? Apparently, wealth and fame excuse anything in the gospel of Whoopi.
This is never OK. Not 31 years ago, not today, not 31 years from now. Not in the US, Europe or any other civilized part of the world. Polanski needs to be punished as he should have been before he fled the country to avoid paying the penalty for his crimes.
It is a disgrace that the “Hollywood” set has decided to try to defend this disgusting little man. As if all the talent in the world somehow excuses this nauseating crime.
And they wonder why “Hollywood” is so widely disrespected.
ChuckfromTacoma says: To have a forty something year old man give a thirteen year old child prescription drugs and champagne, and have anal sex with said child while she is semi or unconscious and not acknowledge that it is rape is nearly as repulsive as the crime itself. To have the women of the view protect this piece of slime is unconscionable. How do you tastefully put that the guy ejaculated in the butt of an unconscious 7th grade child? I can’t think of a way, but it has to be known to evaluate the seriousness of his crime.
The man plead guilty to a lessor charge to avoid the embarrassment of trial. Being the wealthy slime that he is, he ran to Europe to live happily ever after. His ego caused him to mess up and go to a jurisdiction where he can be extradited. He is still the rich guy that has the means to fight a prolonged legal battle.
He owes a debt for his evil crime and as Keeva said, Polanski needs to be punished for the rape plus needs to pay for the flight to avoid paying his debt to society.
If drugging and sodomizing a 13-year old girl is not “rape-rape” then what is? I guess it’s only rape if you kill her afterward. That scumbag pleaded guilty to the crime and then left the country. I don’t get how being on the run for 30-years means we should forgive and forget. Hopefully, some prison time will save us from having to endure another shitty movie like “The Pianist”.
Pam1151 says: I totally agree with both of you. I couldn’t believe Whoopie said that. She has daughters and I just can’t believe anyone, let alone someone who has daughters would say this. I don’t watch The View unless there is someone on I want to see but I will bet she will be backpeddleing this soon. I personally think they should put him in jail for the rest of his life. The only one thing I will say is that it was 30 years ago and in those days even the judicial system didn’t really recongnize rape the same way it does today. Many women had to suffer until it became a crime with any kind of substantional punishment. The girl (now grown) says she forgives him but she would have had to deal with it and learn to forgive in order to get through her life in any way with a healthy mind. Having said that, I don’t mean he should be forgiven when it comes to the law. I am glad the laws have changed for the better and bless all of the women that had to go through hell to get it that way.
CaptainAmerica says: Now if any show needs to be boycotted this is it!!
Jelperman says: Amen to that!
FUCK YOU, WHOOPI GOLDBERG!
Ben Linus says: Rape is the worst thing you can do to a woman. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with Whoopi Goldberg, what Polanski did IS the definition of drug-facilitated date rape.
We all know if this was some conservative person, Whoopi wouldn’t be going out of her way to defend him and redefine rape.
When I was a boy the State of California, along with most other states, still had the death penalty for rape. I am not going to bemoan the passage of lighter sentences since then but I would also not cry too long and loudly if Polanski got extradited to California and got shanked in jail, either.
As for Whoopie, just how MANY times did her Momma drop her on her head when she was a baby?
Martiniman says: I don’t think anybody has ever mistaken Whoopi for a genius, and this confirms why.
Seattle Dave says: @ Keeva: “Allegedly intelligent”? Who ever alleged THAT?
I wonder if Mel Gibson would have the fraternity of Hollywood directors coming to his defense.
(Although I’m not sure Woody Allen is in a position to criticize Polanski that much…)
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