Dear Hollywood folks

[topaz]

Dear Hollywood folks:

I like you.  I really, really like you.  Lots of you are really my kind of people: funny, engaging, passionate about making great movies, earnest about progressive change (if a bit shallow in your politics, but lots of us are guilty of that mistake sometimes).  I confess: I am more susceptible to show biz gossip than I like to let on, and am liable to click through on the latest celebrity news quickly when no one's looking.  I care, guys.

So it is only with the deepest sincerity and concern that I ask you today to shut the fuck up about Roman Polanski already.

Seriously!  I don't know what you think you're doing, but it's not helping.  It's not helping anyone.  It's not helping him, it's not helping the situation and it's really not helping you.

Look, I know there are complexities at play here.  I know that the victim has, for most of the last 30 years, wanted to put the case behind her, and since January has wanted the case dismissed.  I know that Polanski was on the verge of locking in a plea bargain when the judge fucked him like.... well, like a 44-year-old director fucks a 13-year-old girl, I guess.  No one, as far as I can tell, believes that he poses a threat to anyone at this point.  I get it.

But please let us return to first principles: this is a man who pleaded guilty to raping a thirteen-year-old girl.  That is not usually classified as a victimless crime, Hollywood folks!  While the judge's apparent decision to reneg on accepting a plea bargain was a rotten thing to do, it does not reduce or lessen his guilt and it arguably does not justify fleeing justice for 30 years.

So if you want to lobby for his freedom by urging that the judge dismiss the charges, or sentence him to time already served: that is a fine argument!  Go for it.

But in the meantime, kindly do not:

• tell us that he should be excused because "he's a brilliant guy, and he made a little mistake 32 years ago"
• refer to raping a thirteen-year-old girl as a "so-called" crime
• attempt to excuse it on the basis that "it wasn't rape rape"
• dismiss the gravity of the issue because Polanski "is not responsible for killing anyone"
  

And above all, whatever you do, DO NOT allow Woody Allen within a HUNDRED MILES of commenting on this case.  I mean, Jesus H. Christ on a camera dolly.

Or, as muckefuck put it so eloquently: I ❤ Luc Besson.

I love you, guys.  I really do.  Now stop fucking up.

Comments

[kcatalyst.livejournal.com]

That's clear to all of us. And I agree, it's a really, really bad move and as a mother I would not only never even consider it, I would physically prevent a friend or relative from doing if necessary.

My concerns are:

1) far or not, the crucial step that removes it from rape is that rape actually violates someone's consent. as a society and legal system, I would like us to keep our eyes on the prize, as it were and consistently criminalize violations of sexual consent.

2) As qwrrty has already said, responding about the mom in response to this particular post has the rhetorical effect of excusing Polanksi and his jackhole friends by changing the conversation about who the REAL problem is

[qnetter]

If you're talking about the real problem being his friends, sure.

If you're talking about the criminals, I'm offended at the focus on one conspirator and the free pass given the one who has the most responsibility, if not the most culpability for the act. That has nothing to do with my belief about the notion of punishment (stupid) or of 30+ years of pursuit (pointless).

[kcatalyst.livejournal.com]

Ok, doesn't seem to see much point in arguing. The crux seems to be that you think that actual rape is not as bad as exposing a kid to a potential rapist. I strongly disagree, but there's not a lot more to say on the matter.

[qnetter]

"Seems" to you.

The crux actually IS that I think knowingly or negligently exposing your own child to a strongly-potential rapist in an obviously-sexualized situation is nearly as bad as actual rape, because you have a special responsibility to your own child.