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Whoopi Goldberg clarifies Polanski comments

Posted: Thursday, October 01, 2009 9:16 AM by Ryan Osborn
Filed Under:

This morning, Whoopi Goldberg called during the show to clarify a statement she made about the recent controversy surrounding Roman Polanski.

Goldberg had said, "It was something else but I don't believe it was rape-rape."

Whoopi wanted to clarify the comment and make it clear that she was talking about the legal charge against Polanski at the time.

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Comments

Sexual assault is sexual contact of any kind that is unsolicited. Rape is only one part of sexual assault. Whoopi is wrong still. I STRONGLY encourage her to go to her nearest Rape Crisis Center to not only learn what sexual assault and what it entails but the effects that it causes the victim.

Norma, Gastonia, NC (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:05 AM)

Since when isn't drugging a 13 year old and having sex with them not "rape-rape"?  I think that the response of many in Hollywood shows the sad state of our world, in which people with money, power or influence are excused of immoral behavior.  We have a responsibility to protect our children.  It doesn't matter if it was yesterday or 30 years ago.  He never paid his debt to society.  Not that the damage to this girl could ever be repaired.  

Corrina, Miochigan (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:17 AM)

Whoopi went on and on about the legal situation when she isn't a lawyer and has no credible intellectual credentials.  She was pathetic.

mic jor, Berkeley, Ca (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:19 AM)

Rape-rape. Meaning what? It wasn't HER daughter? I appreciate Whoopi's honesty reflex but maybe she should think first sometimes before she speaks.

ladyofargonne (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:23 AM)

Most people convicted of rape carry some other title on their sentence (criminal sexual misconduct, for example).  It's just words.  She's either ignorant or stupid to have said what she said.

Nicole, Joliet IL (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:29 AM)

my comment on this rape case is this guy gave her drugs  when she was 13 right had sex with her, he knew what he was doing she didnt so it is rape. let go on to something else. okay

janedoe indiana (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:37 AM)

Since its appearent that Whoopie had no idea of what she is talking about, she should of kept her mouth shut.

Polanski was indicted by a grandjury on 6 charges that had the penalty of life. The Judge in the case let him plead guilty to a lessor charge and dropped the 6 charges but informed them that he wasnt going along with "time served", for the 42 days he was in observation. So the judge allowed him to plea guilty to the lessor charge and set a date for sentencing. Polanski then ran to France. The USA tried to extradite Polanski but the French used a loophole in the Extradition Treaty to deny extradition.

So now all Polanski has coming is a sentencing hearing, then on his way to do what ever time the Judge gives him.

The reason i didnt include the particulars of the case itself is because it dosnt matter. He pleaded guilty. Case is finished as far as that goes.

Charles Ohio (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:40 AM)

Yes, why aren't we all up and arms to get the guys that raped us all (and still are) behind bars? Goldman Sachs, Fanny and Freddie, AIG, Paulson, Lewis, etc. etc. etc!

Whatever you do, don't look at the man behind the curtain!

J.D. Morley (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:40 AM)

Whoopi, I have followed you and loved you for the past 20 years.  You have to be intelligent as well as funny.  Just admit it.  You had a brain fart yesterday.

Dan B, Granville, Ohio (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:54 AM)

he wasnt charged with a lesser charge than rape.  she is wrong.  he was CHARGED with rape and other charges, he tried to plead to a lesser charge, but he violated that agreement himself.  his indictment of RAPE still stands.  he WAS charged with rape.  and rape rape at that.  the only kind of rape.

gina, jackson, nj (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:00 AM)

The wisdom of Guinan was just on the script.  Without that script, she's just Whoopi.

B, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:10 AM)

This is not a remark for whoopi, however with meredith this am, she made a comment that the child who was raped even forgave him so why go any further, i know this was not her exact words. However because it is a crime meredith and he raped a 13 year old girl what are you thinking.... hollywood does not exempt you from the law, even though it appears like it does. Not a good example to our youths....next time think before speaking

pat jacobs (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:11 AM)

Sick of the apologist Hollywood sickos and idiots.  There is no way to explain away what he did.

Rich, Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:12 AM)

Whoopi,
If that little girl were you or your daughter, would you take the same stand?
You are a hypocrite!

Annie Y, Rockville, MD (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:14 AM)

Speaking as an activist woman, Whoopi has forever been diminished in my eyes. She has betrayed women and girls.

Lynn, St. Cloud MN (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:15 AM)

He is most definitely guilty and deserves to be labeled a sex predator and punished as a rapist...

However, what kind of parent lets their 13 year old daughter go alone with some 40 year old guy to someone's house to be photographed? IMHO, the parents are just as guilty as this a--hole...

Michael, Orlando, FL (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:18 AM)

I am very upset with the film industry, including Whoopie Goldberg.  Do they have children?  Why do they defend a "monster" who drugged and raped a 13-year old girl.  Also, the way he raped her, I cannot even write it here.  Then he fled the country.  I want him to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Ruth Donovan, San Diego, California (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:17 PM)

Whoopi, Clarify your statements all you want....make it easy for everyone...including yourself, simply say: I screwed up, and that you should of never brought it up.  You certainly are entertaining, so please, keep entertaining us with...ENTERTAINMENT...not dumb ass opinions. Rape is rape..prove to me that there is a thing called "rape lite"...and show me a court of law that looks at rape in a lite sense, and I'll be amazed. Certainly Roman is not the first talented person who has committed or been charged with a serious crime...It doesn't matter who he is or what he's accomplished in life...he needs to be held accountable for his actions...and add another 10 years to his sentence for hiding like a coward    

Jay , Southington, Ct (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:19 PM)

I have always respected Whoopi, the intelligent women that she is, so I was very shocked that she made a comment like that.  What doesn’t shock me is Woody Allen, a child molester himself, is on the band wagon to have Polanski released.  Shut up Woody Allen and go away.

Carol, Albuquerque, NM (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:19 PM)

Doesn't Toys R Us refer to Whoopie as a child advocate when she poses in their fliers that are in the Sunday paper?  I guess her degree of advocacy around a 13 year old plied with drugs and alcohol and then raped/sodomized changes with the number of Oscars won by the perpetrator.  Maybe the toy company should re-think their choice of spokesperson.

Eric Lagerquist (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:22 PM)

If Polanski is left free then our society gives license to all those adults/fathers to rape their child because when the child grows up the fathers/adults will think they'll be forvgiven or better yet may not care at all. America - please don't set a wrong precedence.

vxrt (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:26 PM)

Whoopi was just trying to rationalize the behavior of one of her fellow celebrities. Yes, Whoopi, it WAS "Rape Rape"... and it staggers me to think that those words actually escaped your mouth. As a prior writer mentioned, if this was your daughter, you would have gone to Polanski's and shot him, pure and simple!

What is worse, is that the Hollywood community is rising up to say that he has been "Punished Enough> Oh, I guess that a home in Paris, a chalet in Gstaad, and millions of dollars is somehow "Punishment"? Uhhh Excuuuuse me, but NOT!

Can we please have some hosts that actually know a little about what they are talking about. PLEASE?  

Richard Haight, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:27 PM)

Please, please take her off The View.  She enjoys standing up for womens rights and being liberal when it benefits her.  I can't BELIEVE she said "rape, rape".  Too many Americans are listening to Hollywood and its ruining our country in so many ways.  If ABC doesn't silence her, they choose ratings over class and I will no longer watch ABC.

Kim, Fort Worth, Texas (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:27 PM)

Woopie, for someone with an excellent education, you seem clueless regarding the meaning of "rape", particularly as it relates to an underage child!  The facts of the case are clear, this a$$ hole confessed and then ran like any other criminal, given the chance.  We now have him by the short hairs and it's time for him to meet Bubba in the big house.  Roman will get to experience first hand what he did to that young girl.  Fudge packing will take on an entirely new meaning for Roman!

Tizzy, Auburn, WA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:28 PM)

I believe some of these actor have been under the lights alittle to long, they're going brain dead...Debra Winger & Whoop have lost their minds...his man took something from a child, I don't care if it ws 200 years ago he has done a crime and has yet to pay for it...I pray that lady justice hands it out it him!

Floored in Georgia (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:30 PM)

Well, i think Whoopi is "ugly-ugly"

joe walsh, salina, KS (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:30 PM)

I never realized GOD...you know, the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent deity who is never wrong and who knows the true guilt/innocence of every living person...took so many forms, used so many names, felt so compelled to post a comment on MSNBC's website and hated Whoopi Goldberg so much. I am so comforted by all this certainty about Polanski's guilt. Now could you "gods" fix the economy, cure cancer, bring America together and make Glenn Beck go away?

Jerry Flailwell (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:31 PM)

He pleaded guilty. Help me understand why he shouldn't be punished? Oh, and living in Paris is not my idea of punishment. I wouldn't care if he invented a vaccine for AIDS - If you do the crime, you do the time. Hell, for evading the Law didn't he break ANOTHER law?!? Shouldn't he be punished more?!?!

Rob, Atlanta, GA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:32 PM)

It's not a close call what alternative universe do these folks live in?

Jon Cox (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:34 PM)

It was rape rape, but even if it had been "just" statutory rape, Polanski did the crime and must do the time. If he feared the judge had overturned the preposterously lenient plea agreement, he had the legal option of withdrawing his plea and going to trial--at which time Whoopi and her Hollywood friends and their media sycophants would have attacked the girl directly.
I am sick of Whoopi and her pals and I think ToysRUs should bounce this ignorant, uncouth pig as their spokesperson.
Enough already!

clarice ,Washington DC (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:34 PM)

This just goes to show Hollywood has a double standard.  Rape a 13 yr old, its not rape.  Get a blow job in the White House, and it's not cheating.  If your a Liberal, you can do as you wish.  Good thing he wasn't Gay, he would be labled a hero by the President.....

Matt R (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:34 PM)

Whoopi just so you know you were the main topic of discussion this morning at our breakfast round table. Where a group of us go every morning to eat and discuss the issues of the day.  You were it today.  Now don't take it as a complement as we all agree men and women alike that you are not a child protector.  You like the rest of your Hollywood counterparts have lost touch with the real world. You believe you are better than others and above the law. You would rather stick up for a rapist and child molester then go against your Hollywood friends.  Now really Woopi I for one will never watch or read anything that you are involve in again.  Shame on you.

Arleen M. Rutledge (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:34 PM)

Whoopi last I checked you were supposed to be funny and stick to that.
Your entitled to an opinion and in this case you sound like a complete idiot!

Bill, Laguna Niguel, Ca (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:35 PM)

A Whoopi-cushion could have provided more intelligent comments than Ms. Goldberg.

Ben Dover (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:35 PM)

Whoopi, Lincoln said it best--It's better to be thought of as a fool than to open your pie-hole and remove all doubt.

Mike, Portland, OR (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:35 PM)

You people do not get it.  Whoopi was not trying to defend Polanski.  Whoopi was trying to prevent from getting sued for slander.  Why do you think the other women started to use the word allegedly.

Dee, College Station, TX (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:39 PM)

This is another case of Hollywood not being in-touch with reality.  To hear Whoopi utter those words "Rape, Rape?"  What the heck is she thinking about.  Roman, drugged, plied her with alcohol and raped her.  This was a child that this offense happened to.  Then to hear that it was mutual agreed upon to have sex.  Come on World wake the heck up!  

Roman would have been a great segment on "to Catch a Predator".  If this child had been Whoopi's child she would have been screaming for his testicles to be served up on a platter, nuf said.

Chuck, Murfreesboro, TN (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:39 PM)

Whoopie running her mouth, as usual.  Standard for the View.

patilee, san diego ca (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:40 PM)

I wonder if she would have said what she said about it not being "rape-rape" if it had happened to a child of hers?

So just how old does a child have to be before it is considered "rape-rape," whoppi?

Joe the American, USA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:42 PM)

Her statement reflects the moral tone of super stars who believe themselves above the law. How in good concious can you say a 13 year old girl drugged was not rape?

Anyone else would be labled a petafile and thrown to the wolves in prison. Not only that this guy is a fugitive from justice. He has never been made to face his crime. If they let him go, that will set a dangerous precedent.

To have this air of scumbag entitlement because you have money. Please. With that comes a moral responsibility like it or not. You can't abuse people because you have money and a legion of lawyers to keep you out of jail.

A system that has failed this young girl, must do the right thing. Also the media needs to leave his victum alone and focus on Polanski. The woman in this crime has paid enough. Let's allow her a life in peace!

Bob Dallas, Texas (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:43 PM)

I am sure that by now Ms. Goldberg has tired of reading the outrage that has come down on her for the remarks she made.  She tried to "clarify" her remarks this morning on the Today show.  Fortunately I have watched her work over the years for her skills as an entertainer, not as a lawyer.  When you think that being indicted for drugging, raping and sodomizing a 13 year (who objects) is not rape-rape, then I guess she needs to stick to what she does best.  We can now identify what she is really bad at.

David, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:44 PM)

The double standards with the Hollywood crowd is just infuriating!  If this were happening anywhere else, involving anyone else, this debate wouldn't even be happening. What he did was disgusting, unlawful and he should be punished to the full extent of the law.  

KC, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:44 PM)

You have to see it through Whoopi's eyes. People on the left can not be quilty of rape any more than black people could be racists.

John, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:45 PM)

If anyone is pro-polanski they should read the original court transcripts from the 13 year old victim. That will change their opinion. If it doesn't change their opinion then they are mentally ill.

jay wagner (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:50 PM)

what does anyone really expect out of the mouth of Whoppi Goldberg moral wisdom?

Kay, lakewood ranch florida (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:53 PM)

I'm with you J.D.  This is in the past, even the "girl" has gotten her payoff and is happy, LET IT GO.  He'll be dead soon anyway. We have WAY more important things in this world to put all this time and effort into.  

Jay, KCMO (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:54 PM)

a judge in Philly refused to charge a man with rape after he refused to pay a prostitute and she went to the police. Womens groups came out of the wood work to villify this judge. Rape is Rape they said. Where are these womens groups now?

Tony Deni (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:57 PM)

I think Whoopi should just give up on trying to make us all understand what exactly it means, because she just keeps inserting that foot deeper every time she opens her mouth.

Jane Doe, Seattle, Wash (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:57 PM)

You can't un-ring the bell on a comment like that...yikes

William, Los Angeles CA (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:57 PM)

Polanski should be castrated. Whoopi doesnt speak for African-Americans who frown on the white man's sexual evils.

Antwanet (Sent Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:57 PM)



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