Whoopi Goldberg Polanski Backlash

October 1st, 2009 by Castina

Whoopi Goldberg has issued a statement clarifying comments she made about Roman Polanski’s weekend arrest in connection with a 32 year old statutory rape case.

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Whoopi is facing a fierce backlash after saying that the critically-acclaimed director didn’t commit “rape-rape” when he had unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

“I know it wasn’t rape-rape. I think it was something else, but I don’t believe it was rape-rape,” she said on The View Monday. “He pled guilty to having sex with a minor and he went to jail, and when they let him out he said ‘You know what, this guy’s going to give me 100 years in jail. I’m not staying’. And that’s why he left.”

Whoopi went on damage control in a follow-up statement issued Wednesday: “Some people got the idea that I was condoning what he did. I’m going to be very clear: I was trying to make sure we had our facts straight because that’s my job – particularly about what he was arrested for and what he was charged with, which was unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, not rape, which was my point.”

In 1977, Samantha Gailey, then 13, told a grand jury that the director supplied her with champagne and drugs, took nude pictures of her in a hot tub, and then had sex with her, despite her repeated requests to be taken home.

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9 Responses to “Whoopi Goldberg Polanski Backlash”

On October 1st 2009, researchgrrrl wrote:

Oh, Whoopi. I used to really quite like you. Stop making the fringe groups in the conservative party look like the sane ones.

particularly about what he was arrested for and what he was charged with, which was unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, not rape, which was my point.

How is drugging a thirteen-year old girl and performing non-consensual sex on her not rape? He pled down to unlawful intercourse with a minor; he was initially indicted in 1977 on six felony charges that included rape, sodomy, and providing a controlled substance to a minor.

Or, more succinctly: Bitch, please.
On October 2nd 2009, azwildcatfan94 wrote:

You know, when I first heard about Whoopi’s comments, I was a lot angrier about it than after actually watching the clips. First, let me say, I have read the victim’s grand jury testimony and if I were a juror, would have said it was absolutely RAPE. But, part of Whoopi’s job on that show is to protect them from libel or slander, whichever it would be for on TV. It does seem clear to me that she was trying to make the point that Polanski was not convicted of Rape, that he pled guilty to having sex with a minor. She even repeated what was fed to her to make sure she was saying it correctly. I think from there, the rest of the pannel was so passionately trying to express that what happened would be RAPE by the average person’s definition and Whoopi was still fixated on the legal term of what he pled guilty to, that the conversation broke down.
On October 2nd 2009, Nadia wrote:

I used to really like Whoopi Goldberg—I just can’t stand her anymore. I was raped by my father three days before my 13th birthday. He got a deal too-he pled to statutory sex assault and is not even eligible for Megan’s Law registration because of the deal he got! People in my own family think that I was “in on it” and gave my dad permission to have sex with me. (because I didn’t scream and try to run) well, I tell you what-I couldn’t because I was in shock and I was scared of him.
You can tell by just watching and listenin to Whoopi that she really doesn’t care about child victims of rape at all. She tried to make it all good by saying that she was just trying to “get the facts right”–but you could see right through her. She wasn’t passionate about anything other than making it very clear to ME that she defends Monster Polanski. I think Polanski should be locked up in the same cell with Charles Manson for the rest of his life. (along with my dad too) oh-and Whoopie, you should try reading the testimony of the young girl and find out for yourself what she REALLY went through. maybe you’ll change your mind-I don’t know but i hope so.
On October 3rd 2009, Stacey Brown wrote:

Shame on Whoopi for her “rape rape” comment. That should haunt her until the day she dies. She says that she has a granddaughter who is 14, how would she like it if Roman Polanski gave her drugs and alcohol then took her clothes off while she was asking to go home, then raped and sodomized her even when she said no. Whoopi is an idiot and should be kicked off that show for all the victims of rape alone.
On October 3rd 2009, S wrote:

azwildcatfan94 wrote:

You know, when I first heard about Whoopi’s comments, I was a lot angrier about it than after actually watching the clips. …part of Whoopi’s job on that show is to protect them from libel or slander, whichever it would be for on TV. It does seem clear to me that she was trying to make the point that Polanski was not convicted of Rape, that he pled guilty to having sex with a minor.

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Wow, I am in COMPLETE disagreement with you on this one. I was FAR angrier after seeing the clip. Not only did she focus on the term RAPE, which did not seem to me to be a big issue of legal correctness on her part, but a personal opinion. Perhaps you missed the part where she talked about cultural differences and that having sex with a 13 year old girl might be seen differently in a different culture. RAPE IS RAPE! There is no such thing as RAPE RAPE….he drugged a child, he had sex with a child unable to fight him off as she said “no”. If she had said he didn’t plead guilty to rape, but plead guilty to “unlawful sex with a minor” instead of going on into her diatribe on how it might be seen differently in other areas…maybe I’d believe you. But this was OUTRAGEOUS on Whoopi’s part and is an unfortunate attitude that is far too pervasive in our culture which allows children to continue to be victimized.
Her remarks are inexcusable!
On October 6th 2009, soanah wrote:

I have watched the video on Jezebel.com and here is what Whoopi said. She stated “it was not RAPE because she was aware and the mother was aware”. WHOOPI GOLDBERG STATED IT WAS NOT RAPE. Those were her words as though it were a fact. She yelled at Joy and Sherri about calling sex with a minor “RAPE” which it is. She then stated that 13 and 14 year olds are thought of differently in other parts of the world. She said “she wanted to state what he was charged with” he was charged with RAPE Whoopi. So why did she yell at Sherri and Joy for speaking the truth. She never really apologized for what she stated about it not being RAPE. He pleaded guilty to having with sex with a minor then she states again not RAPE. Whoopi Goldberg he pleaded guilty to RAPE RAPE RAPE.
On October 7th 2009, Mel Holden wrote:

When I was being driven to the police station from the hotel, the car radio was already talking about it … I couldn’t believe … I thought, you know, I was going to wake up from it. I realize[d], if I have killed somebody, it wouldn’t have had so much appeal for the press, you see? But … f—ing, you see, and the young girls. Judges want to f—young girls. Juries want to f—young girls– everyone wants to f—young girls!

–Roman Polanski in an interview with Martin Amis, Tatler magazine, 1979
On October 12th 2009, Debra wrote:

There you have it – she wanted to clarify for us idiots – read the transcripts – then clarify – he was charged with rape – then made a plea deal – then fleed – some on now – let me clarify it for you Mr. Goldberg!!! You are a disgrace. I personally will not be seeing any more Martin Scorcese, Tilda Swinson or Pedro Alamar (sp) movies – vote with your dollars – we create the monsters with our financial support and then they think they are actually the ones who know something!! Idiots!!
On October 22nd 2009, Ofreo wrote:

Sounds like Whoopi needs to get laid….even if she doesn’t want it…she wants it. Cuz it don’t matter if women are young, dumb, or passed out. Men should just be able to take and and screw them if they want. You know, as long as the girl isn’t fat or ugly, then they have no use to society and should be beaten……