Kirstie Alley on Roman Polanski: Don't Celebrate or Defend Him, Hollywood!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

http://www.comcast.net/articles/entertainment-eonline/20090930/b146725/

Kirstie Alley on Roman Polanski: Don't Celebrate or Defend Him, Hollywood!
Josh Grossberg, eonline
3 hours ago


UPDATE: Alley is apparently none too pleased with our report. In the comments section below, she posted this response.

Kirstie: "1st Josh, could you have found an uglier shot of me? 2nd When U wrote "for the record,Polanski copped to unlawful intercourse with a minor (as opposed to rape)..." did u mean we should think that it's LESSER than RAPE? sorta like asking Jeffrey Daumer if he MURDERED his victims or was just trying to make ZOMBIES out of them as he "copped" to doing..let's see..43 year old Director Roman Polanski put his ***** in a 13 year old girls ****** and then her ANUS after he gave her drugs and alcohol, while she was telling him to STOP..hmmm that's a tough one.." ...

[bbinacan]

1. I agree with her. And what about that dumb shit

Whoopi Goldberg? Unbelievable.

[Mike Daniels]

63. Whoopi left logic's orbit when she defended Michael Vick on "cultural grounds"

So her "levels" of rape isn't that much of a surprise.

[Crabby Appleton]

2. I agree with her. nt

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MichiganVote]

4. Oh that's helpful. Such a clever child you are.

[JVS]

10. There was once a time when the flamewars surrounding this were so hot that mention of Alley and ...

her show were both forbidden. Not unlike the chicken threads.

[MichiganVote]

15. So?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. So her fat stops his pedophilia crimes? Wow, that's a new slant. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Yet Kirstie Alley gets to run free.

Go figure.

[CTyankee]

7. And who did she rape? nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. My eyes.

First there was "Look Who's Talking Now" then she came back to finish the job with that awful "Village of the Damned" remake.

[CTyankee]

53. I am disappointed in you. Surely, you have better use of your time than

belitting a rape victim. You can try harder to be a mensch...it may take a little work in self discovery but I can assure you it is worth it.

[Hello_Kitty]

103. He really doesn't have better use of his time.

He thinks joking about rape makes him cool and edgy.

[CTyankee]

106. I've never been so disappointed in DU in my entire time here.

People making fun of a rape victim. Do you know what's going on? I don't...:shrug:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. Fascinating how far people will go to defend crimes against kids. nt

[City Lights]

47. Indeed. nt

[Walk away]

6. This is my first Polanski Post....I am a big fan of his films.

I am sympathetic regarding the tragic murder of his wife and child.

And yet...he is a child rapist and should go to jail. He needs to serve his sentence and on top of that he should be tried and punished for leaving the country without paying for his crime.

I hope he spends enough time behind bars to find out the difference between having sex and rape. Sorry, I just feel that way.

[JerseygirlCT]

11. Don't apologize!

as far as I'm concerned, you've got it right.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

21. Exactly. Criminals come in all types. Tall, short, talented, not talented, etc.

... but all criminals are criminals.

[JerseygirlCT]

8. Agreed. And what's this nonsense about

"rape" and "not really rape"?

Honest to goodness. Sounds to me like we've got rape when:
a) a 43 year old man has sex with a child
b) that child says "no"

To me, that's rape two times over. Trying to downplay it in any way is just sick. And sickening.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

18. Exactly! nt

[paulsby]

40. i'll go you one further

c) he fed her quaaludes and alcohol.

that alone is frigging disgusting.

imagine if some 40 yr old guy invited your 13 year old daughter/sister/friend over to a house, and once he got her alone, he started feeding her quaaludes and alcohol.

that alone should get time in the slammer.

then, he RAPES her.

some people in hollywood are friggin' amazing, by carrying polanski's water.

[JerseygirlCT]

55. You're right. nt

[Dorian Gray]

49. Exactly

There is no "line" here. "Not really rape rape" is a ridiculous thing to say, and those stars who have said it (I'm looking at YOU whoopie Goldberg) are total idiots.

[ForeignSpectator]

95. What amazes me is that it comes from women, too...

If they at least went with "but she forgave him and wants to move on" or something along those lines but the "rape rape" crap is unbelievable.

[KansDem]

9. Hey, don't be too hard on Ms. Alley. She's from Wichita!

Also attended K-State and KU!

Kirstie Alley was born in Wichita, Kansas, where she was raised, the daughter of Lillian Mickie (née Heaton), a homemaker, and Robert Deal Alley, who owned a lumber company.<2> She has two siblings, Colette and Craig. Her mother died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver in 1981, which left her father seriously injured. Alley attended Wichita Southeast High School and became a cheerleader. She attended college at Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, but dropped out in her sophomore year to pursue acting. She was first seen as a contestant on the game shows Match Game in 1979 (winning $6,000) and Password Plus in 1980. On both shows she stated her occupation as an interior designer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirstie_Alley

[kayakjohnny]

12. I predict great things for this thread.

No, really.

[subcomhd]

16. thus spake xenu

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. I think it's a shame the pedophile chose to run and hide

However, I'm happy that they got him at all.

Too bad punishment can't be doubled.

[Carni]

20. I didn't care what they did with him UNTIL...

I had to endure that ass Debra Winger and other morons talking about what a fabulous artist he is...whether or not he is a fabulous artist...that doesn't have crap to do with whether he should be incarcerated!

Ironically enough, Charles Manson had fabbo music in the opinion of SOME...and so what if his music WAS good? Does that mean he should have been freed if say a bunch of celebs came to his defense back in the day and opined about his being too talented to be in prison? (may sound like a bad analogy, but don't forget Manson was not PHYSICALLY AT the Tate murder locale)

Let Polansky's legal representation make their case about his age, the fact that he has not been extradited until now, errors that may have taken place in his case way back when etc...but spare me the has been Hollywood asses like Debra Winger trying to get attention, curry favor and rejuvenate their careers because it's sickening IMO

UG! :(

[Sarah Ibarruri]

22. I like Debra Winger, but if she defends pedophiles, she's an a-hole

And you're right, criminals come in all types. Some have talents.

[Carni]

25. I honestly thought initially

That -- hey, the guy is 76--the woman he raped is older now and doesn't care about retribution etc but then when this asinine outcry began by some Hollywood people and I heard about it today, I thought give me a break...

What on earth are these people using as a compass -- and I don't just mean a moral one, I mean a common sense one?

Do they consider themselves to be this special? It's absurd and insulting esp after these last eight years of a totally shitty economy! GRRR! :(

[Sarah Ibarruri]

27. Not only that -

Roman Polanski is old because he's a lucky man. He got to old age.

Everyone ages, but not everyone gets a 13-yr old drunk, drugs her, then rapes her in 2 places while she screams no.

[seabeyond]

30. it was france yesterday, calling u.s. mean to pick on htis old man, this great

artist.

not a mention about the rape and how mean it is

that is when i thought, woooo, telling the world men everywhere, girls are free game and telling girls everywhere, .... you are free game.

glad to see they shift position

saw the old fart produce DEMAND his release this morning. who the hell are they. and actresses rallying for him

so i am glad the first actress had the courage to stand up and speak out. waiting for more

[paulsby]

41. france is weird like that

i',m not just sayin'

vili and marykay are frigging heroes over there, and she was one back when vili was still a young teen.

[Odin2005]

69. They consider mere earthly morality to be below them, obviously.

:puke:

[tnlefty]

28. First, because he plied champagne and 'ludes into a female, and I don't

care if she was 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80 and ages in between, it's rape. The fact that she was 13 at the time compounds the crime. I was, and to a degree still am, ready for him to fully pay for his crime.

But, I heard Bill Press state on his radio show yesterday, that the now woman victim wants to let it go. I read something about that here yesterday, and then I heard the two who are filling in for Thom Hartmann today, who really wanted discussion about this, read her statement on the air. She's now 45, married and a mother of three, and that she wants the charges dismissed and that it causes her and her family pain when this is out in the media.

On one hand, he should be held accountable for what he did (and there is a fighting part of me that wants that to happen). I realize that rape victims are traumatized twice or more when they are examined, have to be interviewed, have to testify, and other humiliations that I couldn't begin to fully understand. But, as a grown woman, this victim doesn't want to have this in the public domain, doesn't she have more of a say in what should or should not happen?

I realize that I'm stating this rather awkwardly, but if the victim doesn't want this, shouldn't that be respected? I don't like to think that her life might fall apart as a result of following through with this.

She's the one I'm concerned about, not him, his 'brilliance', wealth, fame or whatever, but her life now and her family. I'm really torn and have been. I wish I could find the best solution, but I can't sort out what is best, only that I feel that her wishes should be given considerable consideration.

I can only send my best thoughts to her and her family.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

29. Who the hell wants to review a rape? If you've gotten mentally away from it 30 years....

Why on earth would you want to relive it? I can't blame her.

I'd want to blow his brains out with a gun, not be forced to relive it in a courtroom.

[tnlefty]

32. I wouldn't think that anyone does.

The point that I was trying to make, and perhaps not well, is that she is now a grown woman who doesn't want this in the public domain. I despise the fact the he fled and has gotten away with this crime for 30 yrs. or so, but I wouldn't like for her and/or her family to fall apart as a result of this being in the public domain. I wish that I had a crystal ball that could let me know that if he is returned to pay for his crimes, SHE would be okay, I would be fine with it.

I'm torn, but I wish the best for her and her family.

[seabeyond]

33. has to be done. and i am sorry for her too. outta her hands. nt

[tnlefty]

37. I haven't even read the threads that have been here.

I just thought that this one might be a semi-friendly thread to express my support for a 45 yr. old woman and what she's stated that she wants, in other words if not at 45 then at what age is a woman supposed to be listened to and considered? My thoughts have been supportive of her and her decision.

I realize that it's out of her hands, and I hope that she'll be okay no matter what the outcome. I never realized that trying to state support for a woman who could very well face a nasty crisis would stir up such ill will. I suppose I've had a couple of day to think that I would hope that what I wanted would carry some weight as to whether my life would be ripped apart after I'd gotten it together again....trying to put myself in her shoes.

I shall not do this again.

[seabeyond]

38. no ill will. where do you get ill will. cant let the guy go. i am sad for woman

gotta be done. where do you see ill will. wish she didnt have to go thru this. a lot of us have to go through a lot of shit in life we dont want to. but.... it is here, she is gonna have to

she never disappeared. she never got away from this

maybe this will conclude and she can move on and put it away.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

35. True.

You know, Polansky was already known as a pedophile before he committed this. He'd been getting away with this kind of stuff. I guess pedophiles do this. They get to a point (particularly successful pedophiles) that they begin to think they can actually get away with raping kids and nothing will happen to them.

[paulsby]

43. you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube

it's about as IN the public domain as it could be. friggin' documentary about him (fawning of course), massive media coverage, etc.

[Berry Cool]

34. This isn't just about the victim and what she wants.

It's about society.

Do we send the message that rape is OK, or don't we?

Yes, it's regrettable that all this has to be happening now so many years later after she's grown and married and a mom and doing OK and says it "pains" her to have this in the media...but whose fault is that? His and no one but his. In short, he's victimizing her AGAIN. Not "the authorities." Not "the media." HIM.

Debra Winger is full of crap--and even though Kirstie Alley is a $cientologi$t, she's on the money this time. The Hollywood reaction to this in general is shameful.

[tnlefty]

36. I fully understand that rape is rape and that society

shouldn't tolerate it. I don't give a damn about what Debra Winger is saying or what anyone else from Hollywood or wherever is saying whether it's in his defense or not. I think he's despicable.

The victim is now 45 yrs. old and she has stated what she wants. As a woman, I really want to respect her thoughts and respect what she she feels the best outcome for HER would be.

I suppose that I disagree that this isn't just about the victim and what she wants. I realize that laws are laws and that he broke them in a horrendous way, but I can't just dismiss what she's stating. If she stated that she wanted his extradition, jail time, etc., as that would be the best outcome for HER, I would fully support her decision. Either way, it's what she thinks is best for HER.

Whatever happens with Polanski, my thoughts will still be with her and her family.

[paulsby]

44. LOTS of DV victims don't want prosecution

in most of the cases, it's "low level" stuff, but i've had some serious felonies etc. where the victim's didn't even want an arrest ,let alone a prosecution.

sorry, but the proscecutor can and does CONSIDER what the victim wants, but there ARE greater concerns.

[JerseygirlCT]

58. Yes, that's a good point

it's really important here to stay focused on who the criminal is and was.

[paulsby]

42. lots of domestic violence victims don't want prosecution either

i'd say about 50% of the arrests i make (at least).

do the prosecutors take that into account? sure.

is that dispositive? of course not.

i had a case with a guy who swung an axe a few inches over his wife's head, after he told her to put her head down on a chopping block.

while doing it, he screamed words to the effect of "i could kill you this easily".

she didn't want prosecution.

should he not be punished?

[JerseygirlCT]

56. I don't believe she needs to be involved in this any further now

He pled guilty to the rape charge. Done.

Then he'll need to face charges on his running. Doesn't involve her.

I understand her desire to try to put this behind her. But now, it's about justice and a criminal system that seeks it, regardless of the criminal's means or talents.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

62. She called us philistines

for wanting a child rapist to face justice. Stay classy Debra.

[seabeyond]

65. i

love your name....

excellent and kick ass.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

77. thank you seabeyond n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

24. Debra Winger - "His life has always informed his art, and it always will"

Fuck

You

Debra Winger.

[Carni]

26. She needs to pull her head out of her ass IMO

Additionally THIS type of crap is why artist's get bad rap in the first place!

I should just make a "GRRRR!" avatar for myself tonight lol

[seabeyond]

31. did she say this since arrest. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

45. She said it - in reaction TO his arrest. With outrage no less.

sickening no?

[seabeyond]

46. yep.... cant respect that. nt

[CTyankee]

54. The Wingers of this world need to get over themselves. Her statement

is about the stupidest thing I have seen written about Polansky. Does she understand what a fool she's made of herself spouting such meaningless garbage? Some of these Hollywood actors think they look more "intellectual" by saying stuff that makes no sense...

[seabeyond]

57. it truly was stupid. truly meaningless. but in embracing this amything goes world, they

havent position themselves exactly in that position.

plain speaking cant win the battle

alley on the other hand, used none of that. clear precise and message clear. cant argue with it, except in fuzzy

[CTyankee]

66. I think it's because Hollywood actors want to be considered smart. Many of them

were college dropouts and prolly have a bit of shame that, later in life, they didn't cut it enough to stay in school. Or were just lazy. So they hire "smart" publicists who DID graduate from college to write nutty nonsense that "sounds" intellectual. Note the use of Winger's words "his life informs.." sounds like a pompous college sophomore's term paper in a History of Film survey course...

[seabeyond]

67. i hear ya. whatever her reason, it is bush talk. nt

[NashVegas]

94. I Don't Think That's Really a Fair Statement

Many people in the entertainment business never went to college, but they continue their education in other ways - reading, travel, research, etc.

Meanwhile, many people who DO go to college now are going for specialized degrees and missing out on a broader education.

Sometimes, they're just vapid.

[CTyankee]

96. True. I was just talking about the pseudo intellectual crap that Hollywood people

often lapse into. I can't help thinking that they have a publicist who dreams up these sophomoric statements and they think it sounds "intellectual".

I don'thear people like Jodie Foster, who has a Yale degree, spouting off like that. She had a serious education and the LAST thing she would say is something like what Winger said. And Winger's statement is not the first time I've heard such poppycock...

[PSzymeczek]

102. And what's SHE done lately?

Her career had been nonexistent for years.

[Dorian Gray]

50. I think you hit the nail on the head here....

the more celebrities talk about what a great artist he is and how he deserves to go free, the more "regular" people think he (and they) are all tools and want whatever punishment to be thrown at him exponentially worsened.

The entire attitude of entitlement that the celebs have here is astounding to the rest of us.

[JerseygirlCT]

59. And implicit in that attitude is

the idea that we great unwashed masses simply don't have the capability to recognize or judge "art". Which is bs.

It's a twisted and elitist attitude, and it's shameful.

[Odin2005]

70. That's exactly what I pointed out in another thread.

[theHandpuppet]

51. Note to Debra Winger

"Artistic license" doesn't include the right to rape and sodomize a child. There are some folks in Hollywood who apparently think way too highly of themselves, as if they aren't bound by the laws of us mere mortals.

[Maru Kitteh]

23. I agree with her. n/t

[paulsby]

39. hell ya!

way to go kristie!

[Dorian Gray]

48. I never thought that I'd say this in a million years

but Kirstie Alley rocks.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

52. Kirstie read the transcript of the grand jury testimony. Of all the reports I've heard on

the teevee about this, even the anchor people haven't read the transcript. They see what he plead guilty to and end of story. People are defending this man when they don't have all the facts. He is a rapist, raping someone who claimed to have said, more than once, NO.

[madmom]

60. While I agree with Kirstie 100%, I wonder what took them so long to go after him?

[LisaL]

71. Because he left for France and France would not extradite him.

[cbdo2007]

61. They all gave him a standing ovation at the Oscars when he won a few years ago.

[SIMPLYB1980]

64. Good on Kirstie!

:thumbsup:

[Odin2005]

68. I'm sick of the "He's a great artist so he should not be punished" crap.

I don't care if he shits gold bricks, he's RAPED A 13YO GIRL!!!

[JerseygirlCT]

72. I just don't get why some seem to have the ability to ignore

that big, fat, blazing fact in their face.

Nothing changes that.

[bullwinkle428]

73. French government officials are back-pedaling big-time on their

"LEAVE POLANSKI ALONE!" stance, after looking at polling results of regular French citizens, the majority of which are viewing him as a total scumbag!

[seabeyond]

74. good to hear. thanks. excellent. he is what he is, regardless if any time spent in jail. nt

[jenniferj]

76. Yes... they have realised that the President and

the artistic intelligensia of Paris that think Polanski is a nice, mis-understood film maker, do not reflect the majority of
the French people....Most French people think he is a scum bag, who should be in prison....Sarkozy has seriously got it wrong and has had to back track fast...

[paulsby]

87. good for the french

the people are often way more common sense, than the leaders, and that aint just true in the US.

i am sure the french people don't want to be thought of as the people that support rape (tm).

i mean jerry lewis is bad enough! :)

[seabeyond]

88. look at pres of france. not like he has a whole hell of a lot of respect for females

i know i know... all that behavior and he respects women too.

right

[paulsby]

89. yea

i haven't been keeping up with french politics, i must admit. i used to read paris match at least a couple of times a week (mostly to keep my language skillz current). not so much any more

iirc, much ballyhoo was made recently about the french prez openly having a wife AND a mistress (not sure if it's this prez or the last one) and ho wmuch more "enlightened" that was than the US attitude towards marriage.

i find that curious.

personally, as long as all parties involved are ok with it, i don't have any moral problems with it, but it's kind of odd to me.

[seabeyond]

91. for decades i have heard comments how american women should be more european and enlightened they

are

as a female, even young, i never got that. i always felt they were so much more weak adn dependent adn controlled. didnt get it then, dont get it now. always figured it is cause men in u.s. wanted the weak woman. never had a desire to be that myself.

and that is without a lot of discussing back and forth on it. just casual thought of the years and hearing comments.

[paulsby]

75. Roman Polanski is a CEO

let's redo this scenario.

everything is the same, except instead of polanski being a very talented director, he's a CEO of a big corporation.

he does the rape gig, then flees to france. while in france, he continues to run the company, winning awards and praise from fellow businesspeople, some of whom flock to france to work with him.

eventually, he is arrested in switzerland. numerous businesspeople in the US go on tv, etc. and sing his praises. a major talking head says "it's not rape rape". outrage comes from many countries about how mean we are.

i would bet dollars to doughnuts that if the EXACT same scenario as with polanski existed, except with this fabled CEO, that VERY few of the polanski apologists would be singin' the same tune, and the business community would not be behind him, like so many in hollywood are.

yea, we get it. he's a great director. he's still a POS rapist scum

[tammywammy]

78. You don't even have to go as far as CEO

If he was a *gasp* republican 99% of this board would be calling for his head on a platter.

[paulsby]

79. true dat

it really is amazing.

or not so much when you've been around politics for a long time.

[jenniferj]

81. Imagine what they would say if it was a priest....

And bishops were supporting him in the press....the Polanski apologists would be out for blood and the destruction of The Catholic Church...Or a Republican, who was being jusitifed by Bill O'Reilly.....
What bothers me about Polanski is that he didn't learn, he took up with a 15 year old, while it was just about legal in France, it shows he had a liking for young teenage girls, which shows no remorse and huge arrogance towards those that want him prosecuted.... The anger that people feel is because he is another example of the rich, famous and powerful commiting a crime and getting away with it..

[NashVegas]

80. Right Now, She Looks Like the Only Person In Hollywood With a Lick of Common Sense

[seabeyond]

82. and courage. nt

[rvablue]

83. While not quite the "Hollywood crowd," the singer Jewel has also questioned why anyone

is arguing he shouldn't face justice. On her Twitter feed, she said something to the effect:

"I don't get it? He raped a 13-year-old girl? What else is there to know? Why are people defending this guy?"

[seabeyond]

84. cool. i dont know who jewel is. but the best.... get out and speak out... ty. nt

[SIMPLYB1980]

85. Jewel is a great singer and artist. Her music is soothing to the sole.

http://www.imeem.com/mikemc35/playlist/q2nY5d6a/jewel-greatest-hits-music-playlist/

[ForeignSpectator]

100. Sorry but...

:hi:

[SIMPLYB1980]

105. LOL! Opps.

[paulsby]

86. good for jewel

i've always liked her, and her funky teeth!

seriously.

[NashVegas]

92. Good For Her

I have this horrifying vision of attendants at the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony being stupid enough to give him another standing ovation. It was forgivable when The Pianist won - it was about the art. Next year, it won't be and they are going to make ridiculous fools of themselves.

[rvablue]

93. Indeed they will look foolish. But even though there are many names on that

petition to release Polanski, it accounts for about just one tiny sliver of a percent of the Hollywood elite.

If some do that, you will see many, many more who do something to show their disgust. Count on it.

[redqueen]

99. Good to know...

I hope some guys are stepping forward to condemn this sickening defense of the guy too.

[closeupready]

90. Yes absolutely. I used to like Debra Winger. Now she can go crawl back under her rock

for all I care. :mad:

Kirstie Allie rocks - thank you for saying this, Kirstie! :hi:

[redqueen]

97. A lot of people here seem to think it's lesser than rape.

This has ben the most disturbing and revealing week for me on DU. *sigh*

[seabeyond]

101. but you missed the couple days where hands down, strong majority of guys

took adament stands against this behavior. has been eye opener for me too, but i dont think we drew the same conclusions.

i really was mighty proud of du for the most part, a fuckin impressed with the guys

[joeybee12]

98. Let's try not to have Kirstie alley threads...scientology nutjob

that she is...even if I agree with her, she's still crazy.

[Omaha Steve]

104. Good for Kirstie

K&R!

[TexasObserver]

107. I'm shocked. Who knew Kirstie Alley was still alive?!

How she ever had a career as an actress is one of life's mysteries.