July 19th, 2010
03:59 PM ET
Roman Polanski 'happy to be free'Days after he was released from house arrest, filmmaker Roman Polanski made his first public appearance at Saturday's Montreux jazz festival in Switzerland. The 76-year-old, who was set free July 12, showed up to support his wife, French actress and singer Emmanuelle Seigner, who performed at the Lake Geneva event. Last September, the "Rosemary's Baby" director was arrested in Zurich on the basis of a U.S. extradition request stemming from a 32-year-old sex charge. In 1978, Polanski fled America after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles. He was freed last Monday after Swiss authorities declared that the U.S. had failed to provide records of a January hearing that would have shown Polanski had already served his sentence. "I'm not sure what I will do hereafter," Polanski told Swiss station TSR on Saturday. "For the moment I'm happy to be free."
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I am so glad I identified this blog. Thank you for the information. You make a lot of good points in your article. Rated 5 stars!
great post save up the countless work.
i thin that Roman Polanski should not only be jailed but he should be hanged "
Roman Polanski is a child molester and that is for sure;;:
Not only is polanski a child molester but his friends must think it is OK to molest children. Remember Harrison Ford accepted an award for the monster 1 or 2 years ago. Why don't he go live with the pervert. ford is just as bad.
To be honest, the guy has had a hard enough life. His wife was murdered brutally, as were some of his friends. Obviously he's not in the right mind set, and is probably still haunted by his past. I'm sure he may even regret the incident with the minor. Just leave him alone. He's just like every other celebrity. They all do horrible things and get away with it. No, it's not fair, but it's going to happen. Do you think arguing over whether or not he is free, via the internet, is going to stop the thousands of other rapists and molesters out there? There are loads of people who are far worse then him, and they are running free and harming children and adults in any way they can.
Also, I'm pretty sure that Polanski would live a full life without much more incident.
I mean....The Guy is 77 years old now! How much longer before he takes a dirt nap? After 80 years old, it's a crap shoot where he could drop dead at any time.
........
"Carl
"Free" meaning he's restricted to Switzerland...because the minute he steps foot outside Switzerland he'll be arrested and extradited to the USA.
July 20, 2010 at 11:20 am | Report abuse | Reply"
>>> Guess again, Stupid. He is able to back to FRANCE 'cause he is...you know...A FRENCH CITIZEN there, and he is able to go to Poland; and now he's going to be able to go anywhere he wants in SWITZERLAND. So that's 3 guaranteed safe-havens for Polanski. In addition, there are other countries that do not have an extradition treaty with the U.S. where he can go, too if he wanted. Even WORSE : Those countries that DO have an extradition Treaty with the U.S.? They would end up releasing Polanski in much the same way unless the Justice Department gives them what they requested which they won't, for some reason.
Please do your homework next time, dork. It's called "Google"....USE IT!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
tah
"every dog has there day. we may not see it in our lifetime, but his time in hell is going to be much worse. if we have any add to the countries that are not sending him back we should cut them off completely. to let rapists and murderers hide in their country is cowardly. they might want to think what if it were their child that he did these horrible things to. he is a coward. let'em have him at least that is one piece of crap we don't have to pay for with our taxes. he will get his and it is going to be way worse than jail time.
July 20, 2010 at 11:53 am | Report abuse | Reply"
>>> Cut off the countries that don't have Extradition treaties with the U.S. off? Is that what you're suggesting? NEWSFLASH for you : if the Country does not have any Extradition treaties with the U.S., then they could tell the U.S. to go fly a kite. And even if he somehow ended up in a country WITH an Extradition Treaty, until the U.S. Justice Department turns over the previously requested sealed-original Court case that, for some mysterious reason, they do not want unsealed and examined, it will end much the same way as it did with Switzerland. And in the end, Polanski would be free to go ANYWHERE in the WORLD Except the U.S.
UNFORTUNATELY. 🙁
The big bad vulture cops always get their man!!! Not this time PIGS
Spoken like a true thug/punk/loser/psycho/lawbreaker.
Any funding we give Swiss on a federal level should be cut ASAP.
*THE* Swiss
(Sorry, didn't finish) I feel very strongly, that someone who was accused of a such crime, fled the United States for another country, and has since enjoyed freedom, wealth, fame and recognition, is being rewarded by essentially being set free. If that were me, or any other "ordinary" tax paying US citizen, I have absolutely no doubt that a national manhunt would have ended in capture, conviction, and incarceration. There are 2 sets of laws – those for "them" and those for everyone else. Only in HIS court will there be justice. So Mr. Polanski if you read this, live as long as you can.
I feel VERY STRONGLY
every dog has there day. we may not see it in our lifetime, but his time in hell is going to be much worse. if we have any add to the countries that are not sending him back we should cut them off completely. to let rapists and murderers hide in their country is cowardly. they might want to think what if it were their child that he did these horrible things to. he is a coward. let'em have him at least that is one piece of crap we don't have to pay for with our taxes. he will get his and it is going to be way worse than jail time.
So this pervert is free...money talks! Switzerland sounds like a bad place to live where they set child rapists free and if I remember correctly they also protected the Nazi's assets during the war..unreal!
"Free" meaning he's restricted to Switzerland...because the minute he steps foot outside Switzerland he'll be arrested and extradited to the USA. What a waste of oxygen Polanski is...as well as all of his libtard Hollywood pals that believe we should just let bygones be bygones. They are all the rotten core of the apple of America. Unless/until we rid ourselves of these morons without morals, America will forever doom itself to mediocracy at best, and eternal damnation at worst.
Because I was expecting him to be sad to be free.
Great article, really insightful and surprising.
Quoting something, "By law, Swiss justice officials were obliged to rule on the request only on technical and administrative grounds, examining it to see that all proper procedures were followed, rather than on the actual merits of the case against Polanski."
If this pervert had been a Catholic Priest the U.S. would have stopped at nothing to get him here! And they should stop at nothing! It is so comforting to know that the media and the U.S. government are not one sided!!
He looks very smug in that photo... gee, wonder why?
So now more rich pedophiles know how to drug and get some and get away with it .
This guy is a PIG!!! Come back to the U.S. and see where you end up living you piece of crap.
It's a good thing Mr. Polanski wasn't a priest. . . then he never would have been charged at all.
that's all very funny and judgmental. she was 13 and she liked it. lol
Isn't it time for your a.m. nap yet? What an assinine comment.
Not to be picky or anything "Betterthanyou" but his wife was not actually killed by charles manson. Old Chucks devoted flock did the deed. Susan Atkins claimed the deed in court, but of course Chucky was the brains.
What I'd like to know is the line he fed his "new wife". What women would want to be with a man that would sleep with a 13 year old. Sick, sick couple!
Why don't we send in some commandos and pick this guy up. Foget the swiss, they were never going to give him up.
"Carl
"Free" meaning he's restricted to Switzerland...because the minute he steps foot outside Switzerland he'll be arrested and extradited to the USA.
July 20, 2010 at 11:20 am | Report abuse | Reply"
>>> Guess again, Stupid. He is able to back to FRANCE 'cause he is...you know...A FRENCH CITIZEN there, and he is able to go to Poland; and now he's going to be able to go anywhere he wants in SWITZERLAND. So that's 3 guaranteed safe-havens for Polanski. In addition, there are other countries that do not have an extradition treaty with the U.S. where he can go, too if he wanted. Even WORSE : Those countries that DO have an extradition Treaty with the U.S.? They would end up releasing Polanski in much the same way unless the Justice Department gives them what they requested which they won't, for some reason.
Please do your homework next time, dork. It's called "Google"....USE IT!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
tah
"every dog has there day. we may not see it in our lifetime, but his time in hell is going to be much worse. if we have any add to the countries that are not sending him back we should cut them off completely. to let rapists and murderers hide in their country is cowardly. they might want to think what if it were their child that he did these horrible things to. he is a coward. let'em have him at least that is one piece of crap we don't have to pay for with our taxes. he will get his and it is going to be way worse than jail time.
July 20, 2010 at 11:53 am | Report abuse | Reply"
>>> Cut off the countries that don't have Extradition treaties with the U.S. off? Is that what you're suggesting? NEWSFLASH for you : if the Country does not have any Extradition treaties with the U.S., then they could tell the U.S. to go fly a kite. And even if he somehow ended up in a country WITH an Extradition Treaty, until the U.S. Justice Department turns over the previously requested sealed-original Court case that, for some mysterious reason, they do not want unsealed and examined, it will end much the same way as it did with Switzerland. And in the end, Polanski would be free to go ANYWHERE in the WORLD Except the U.S.
UNFORTUNATELY. 🙁
Reply FAIL. That was meant as a New subject, not a reply to you, Fran.
But here's my reply to your "Commandos" statement :
ARE YOU INSANE? If the U.S. sends commandos to extract Polanski against his will, the Swiss would consider this an act of WAR and so will France. And then REAL hell will break loose. I highly doubt Obama or whomever is president will want to be the architect of the start of WWIII or something....
i know that the victim has for given him but if its ok to let him run why not everyone that ever did something wrong in the united states so if you want to come and hurt a child you can and run its ok right i know that it was a long time ago but he still needs to do what is right not like he will get much time for it now and i like his films they are good but just because he is a star we will let him get away with this he still broke the law we have laws everyone has to face them if they did wrong even him.
The only message being sent out by the Swiss Government is that they won't be bullied by the USA, and that I applaud. On the other hand, the fact that this individual should be applauded and protected by his peers for what he has done makes me sick.
I don't see that as the message they are sending at all – and if that's what they were trying to do, they sure as he!! picked a doozy of a time to do it. 😛 Apparently, being the victor in an international pi$$ing contest is more important to them than doing what is right. I would have thought a lot more of the Swiss....
I know in the past he did a horrible thing, and yes he should of been sent back years ago, but again as stated before, with the Catholic priesthood, they abuse children in the past and the present, and we are supposed to look the other way, the huge settlements come out of the the follower's pocket. it all gets hushed away, and they go to another parish, to do more damage, and the pope gets to continue hiding it from the world. Now, back to Polanski, I am not a real fan, so that doesn't come into it, if the victim has "forgiven" him by way of a settlement of money or by just word. Get over it, and hunt the real horrible monster out there, stop wasting time on old cases, and get with the troubles of today. He is basically exiled there, if he does something there , they'll take care of it.
You just don't get it, do you? It doesn't matter whether or not the victim forgives the perpetrator. I just watched a doc on how this Death Camp survivor has forgiven the Nazis that nearly killed her and killed her entire family (and millions of others). So, by your reasoning, any living Death Camp murderer should now be absolved of all their crimes? Your kind of ignorance is the scariest of them all.
If you're outraged, the question you should be asking is: why did the United States, who had 32 years to prepare for this, fail in constructing a proper extradition request?
oh, that's simple: america is home to the biggest pedophile population in the world. ha ha
Is it me, or is Kaiser one scary person?
Dude's wife was killed by Charles Manson.... that's a fair enough excuse to go crazy and do stupid things....
Besides, when there's grass on the field....
ROMAN POLANSKI IS MADE OUT TO BE THE DEVIL BUT THERE ARE HORRID FOLKS IN HOLLYWOOD THAT GET AWAY SCOTFREE. Never been more aware of people's dark side as in the last 4-7 yrs. One should be aware of the world for what it is vs.what 1 wants it to be. As I'm NOT IN DENIAL of dark sides of people,nor on drugs or fearful of speaking truths I'll skip the therapist & find Solid Friends instead. AND FRIENDS COME IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES
I guess Mr. P will celebrate with a trip to Cambodia or Thailand if U know what I mean...
I am having a hard time believing people want to dismiss his criminal acts because the victim said to. The law does not state a person is found innocent of a crime unless the victim lets them off the hook.
I am greatly disappointed in Switzerland. I don't care how famous you are or how popular you are, you should not get the pleasure of being above the law. Polanski needs to serve every second he deserves in prison. I hope he gets remembered as the pedophile he is and not the deserving filmmaker he pretends to be.
edit* The law does not state a person is found guilty* of a crime unless the victim lets them off the hook.
I agree that he was wrong and should have been punished a "long" time ago. I have to think that if he took advantage of other girls in all these years, that at least one would have come forward. Wouldn't you think? I don't think any have. So, I am guessing it may have been one, very stupid mistake. Do we ignore the wishes of the woman who does not want to dredge all this mess up so we can feel better? Isn't that what is boils down to?? She is the one who suffered through that day, not us. So what right does anyone have to tell her that we don't care that you moved on with your life and want to go back to a normal life. We think he needs to be punished, so lets put your face back out there and drag you & your family through this again. Also, with all the other problems in this world, do we need to spend our resources and time on a 70 old man that committed a crime 30 years ago? The victim got over it and wants it to go away, why can't you? Think about it, the bottom line is the victims feelings, not ours.
I am so glad my hero is free to take his revenge on all those he considers worthy of being his slaves in the Underworld. That means all of you who have the ignorance to talk in a derogatory manner toward the MASTER. He will enjoy punishing you in a most vile and disgusting manner. So, fetch the butter my lovelies, the Man with the Polish instrument of torture is coming for you. He will be in your homes soon, when you least expect it. All praises be to the father of Rosemary's baby.
There is no cure for a pedophile. I am sure he is still doing kids. He had better be careful what country he does abusing in because most countries are not as lenient as the United States. We actually put them away and let them back out to do it again. They need to be put to sleep just like sick animals.
kids? a 13 year old is hardly a kid. lol
So just what WOULD you call a 13yo, kaiser, if not a kid? Certainly not an adult, capable of having a consenting relationship with someone over 30 years her senior????
Ick, that picture just makes me want to slap the sleaze right off him...
You people going after him so viviously ....how many of you are Catholic... and how many of you that are still believe in your church, your religion and the protectors of all those priests and their bosses who hide them or worse, send them to a new place to prey on more innocent young victims. Why don't you all clean your own house first you bunch of hypocritcal loosers.
You're on the side of a convicted child rapist who got away with it. And you can't spell. Don't they teach basic English in Pedophileland?
amen to that. so many religions condone such behavior. look at india, the middle east, china, etc. we're so prudish and yet so vulgar at the same time in america.
Someone with poor grammar such as yourself shouldn't be mocking someone for their poor spelling.
Back at you, idiot.
I wonder how many other young girls he's diddled?
I am a great fan of Polanski movies. He is one of the greatest producers in this world. It is a dilemma. If he is in prison this world will must be deprived of a number of high quality art works. On the other hand no body should be beyond of the reach of law. Perhaps he will surrender himself to the law when he will know that he do not have to give anything more. Perhaps that would be the best thing which will solve everything.
Yours is possibly the stupidest, most dangerous suggestion I have ever heard. So, as long as the guy is making movies you like to watch, he shouldn't be punished? But as soon as he retires, he should serve his time. Wow. But the scary thing is, you've probably said aloud what many of the conscienceless, entertainment-worshipping minions are thinking.
Stupidest is not a word. Go back to school.
Really? That is the best response to my comment that you can come up with?
Glad to see him free from the witch hunt. Let us put the ghosts of yester years behind him and allow this gifted man to move on with his life.
It's disgusting that this guy isn't in a jail in the United States. He has no thought for his victim(s) whatsoever.
Maybe he should be invited to be on "larry king live" and they should have the FBI waiting for him?
The "victim" has forgiven him publicly, but only because she has been paid off (well, reportedly, but there are reports he never actually paid her). REgardless of whether the victim forgives, the crime still has to be paid for.
A victim forgiving a criminal does NOT relieve the criminal of the burden of paying for their crime.
@ss maybe, but it also is a great place to show who really cares. Whatever that Polanski guy did over 30 years ago is not relevant anymore, the suffering of the Haitian children is relevant, it's now and it's happening.
Hey David E....Haiti would be a great place for Plolanski...
Snap out of it! Even the "victim" has forgiven him. If you care that much for the children, how about the children from Haiti? They are forgotten, they need protection, they need help, now. That's present! R.Polanski is past.
Oh Ok let see, If I do an underage girl from behind when will it be ok for me
10 years, 2 years 1 week? he is a scubbag, and I guess so are you
I heard now he can look for a "little" a**
I wonder how his wife feels every time he takes the children for a "walk" ? Hmm?
Leave his children out of this.
I know the victim has asked for it all to be dropped but I wonder if she has ever been really "free" from what happened to her. And people have excused him by "It was the '70's", blaming the victim, etc. Regardless of all that, his reaction shows he knew it was wrong and I kind of doubt it would have been just swept under the rug in a European country if he'd done the same crime in Switzerland or France.
He's evil
Happy to be free? You fled authorities and never paid the price for something you admitted doing. I understand and agree with the victom. She has continued to suffer for decades because the lawyers, press and public won't leave this alone. However, for him to whine about being free is pathetic. He was on HOUSE ARREST in his Swiss villa. BOO HOO. Lock him in a cell for a year and then he will be happy to be free.
What a PIG!
He is and always will be a pedophile whether he's free or not – tell mothers to watch over their young girls!!!
Now that he's free, he can pick of the slack left over since Michael Jackson died.
Yuck yuck yuck. You are so funny and original.
Sir Loin of Beef You're not only sick but so freaking stupid. MJ was proved not guilty in 2005 and in 1993, the boy refused to testify and the parents accepted money to settle the case. What kind of parents accept the money to settle the case when their child is abused? That case showed that they were only after money and ruining MJ's reputation.
Of course, dumb people like you buys into whatever the tabloid says. Sick.
So....what's your point?
great, now he is free to molest other kids.
Oh what goes around comes around, he won't get away forever.
"Now" he's free? Really? You mean he's been locked up for the past 32 years?
He has been free for 33 years and he has not done anything. You all need to do more research. If the law were left up to you people we would be back to lynch mobs. This was handled legally. BTW do you think he would be pursued if he were not famous? I doubt it.
words fail me..but apparently they didn't fail Mr. Polanski...he did the crime but didn't do the time...if Mr. Polanski were poor and black or poor and white, well, he'd probably still be in prison; Polanski pleaded guilty and was convicted of a heinous crime and fled...he will have to answer someday and he's not gonna like what he hears
How are you to know for sure that when his time comes that it won't be "more children, Mr. Polanski? Seriously though, leave the poor man alone. You Philistines! Can't you see that he is an artiste?
Namblaman, are you insane? Just because a person is 'famous' doesn't mean that they have different rules. If the guy didn't flee into a different country, he'd already have come out of jail by now. Sooner or later, he'll have to do the time.
Why don't we just leave all those pedo cardinals alone. It makes no difference, right?
his freedom says it all: all you have to be is a celebrity and you're guaranteed to get off scot-free regardless of your crime...
The pervert is free...for now.
this rapist should be in prison!!!
He can thank Hillary and the lack of action by the State Department. I guess Hillary was just paying back an old debt to Hollywood.
Does Switzerland protect all pedophines? I always thought I would rather live there after a visit a few years ago.
No crime and everybody has a gun. Everything clean and neat.
Do they approve of pedophines? I need to know. I sure would never want to live in a country who allow children to be abused.
Actually, I'm hoping very much that he'll make a prison movie. Perhaps in South America – their prisons are filled with urchins.
So is Switzerland sending out a message that pedophiles will be protected in their Country? This guy pleaded guilty and then jumped bail…. 2 very serious charges and the Swiss are protecting him…..
Im really glad he is free. Now, he becomes PREY, and is the time bounty hunters head to Switzerland.
Like Nazi assets, they protect pedophiles assets.
Don't blame our end. We gave them what was needed. He went to trial, he was found guilty, he was out on bail, he fled the country. What more did they need? All the trial evidence?
He can delude himself but he will never be free of the guilt of being a pedophile and a rapist. There is a special place reserved for him in hell.
Google "age of consent by country" it was an eye opening experience for me. There were many countries with 13-14 as the age of consent ?!? Plus who knows what the rules were around the world back in the day when this occured. I think this guy should be in prison without a doubt. I can see why there is less of an outcry internationally.
I completely agree, although I am a fan of his films, what he did is wrong and disgusting. He should be in prison for the rest of his life.
In prison? You must be kidding. He'll be at Chelsea Clinton's wedding. You are all obviously ignorant of this man's talents. Humanity needs him. He enlightens us. If you don't see that you shouldn't be able to vote. Besides, what that 13 year old girl was wearing was so provocative...she obviously led him on.
He is not a rapist. She wanted to be a star. He is a fine man. Obviously, you've never seen "Chinatown". Do you have any clue how this world would be without his talent? Of course you don't. You are anti-semitic, trying to bring down a successful and enlightening man. Hitler started this way too. It's easy to see you're a bigot.