And because of a blogger, no less! As a big Emma Thompson fan, I'm relieved to find that after blog reader and blogger Caitlin to put together a petition urging Thompson to take her name off of Bernard-Henri Lévy's petition supporting Roman Polanski, it looks like the actress has had a change of heart. Reports Caitlin, who met Thompson after speaking at Exeter University:
Emma did not have much time between meetings, but she gave me all of the time that she had. I asked her why she had signed the petition, and she explained about how well she knows Polanski, how terrible his life has been, and how forgiving the survivor of the rape all those years ago now is. She said she thought the intentions of the judge were unclear, as were the intentions of those who arrested him recently. She told me that a lot of her friends had rung her up asking her to sign the petition, so there had been a certain amount of pressure. She said that she had already been thinking a lot about the petition, as others had expressed their dismay at her signing it.I handed her our petition and the comments. She read them both through thoroughly, and came back to me. She said, while she supported Polanski as a friend, a crime is a crime. I don't know whether she had realised the extent of Polanski's crime, but she is now fully aware. She will remove her name from the petition - in fact, she said she would call today and sort it out. Even though, she stressed, Polanski has had some truly terrible experiences in his lifetime, experiences that we couldn't even imagine and which should not be taken out of the equation, she agreed that she could not put her name to a petition asking for his release.
She also asked Caitlin to pass along a message to petition signers, saying, "Know that I will remove my name because of you, and all of the good work that you have been doing. I have read your petition. I have heard you. And I will listen." Just awesome. So a big thank you to Emma, but more importantly - thank you Caitlin!
Via Shakesville, who had a hand in this too.
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Love her, and love Caitlin for getting her to sign it!!!
So I'm thinking... is she MORE appreciated because she signed and then changed her mind? Or would she have been more appreciated if she hadn't signed in the first place?
On one hand, she saw the error in her ways and listened to her fans and admitted she was wrong, showing how humble she is, which is a great quality in great people.
On the other hand, she signed it in the first place, and it took a petition for her to see the light.
Personally, I'm torn. I love Emma Thompson as an actress, but I don't really know how I feel about this. Either way it's a good thing that her name is off that petition.
I think that we all have knee-jerk reactions to things that aren't well thought out. Also, Hollywood seems like a very elite, insulated, insider sort of place. The fact that the arrest took place at a film festival, and that part of the petition was protesting that they dared arrest him there after a history of film festivals being considered neutral places, I can see a lot of the Hollywood types who signed the petition considering it an "us vs. them" sort of thing. How dare the real world intrude on their bubble? Don't we know who they are? I don't doubt Emma at all when she says that she felt pressured to sign. Hollywood seems like a place where in order to stay employed, you don't want to piss people off (see: Megan Fox).
If she dug in her heels and stuck by her original decision, I'd feel less understanding about all that. But the fact that she listened, reasoned, and had the ovaries to admit she was wrong, well, it's hard for me to say, "Yeah, whatever, you shouldn't have signed it in the first place."
I'm hoping that her reasoning behind changing her mind will resonate with other people who signed it and that we'll see others removing their names. Once one major, well-respected actress comes out and says, "This wasn't a good idea," I hope that people like Natalie Portman start feeling uneasy about not joining her, and that Emma's signing-then-removal will have more of an effect in the end than her not signing it at all.
"part of the petition was protesting that they dared arrest him there after a history of film festivals being considered neutral places,"
Funny, I didn't know the Geneva Convention applied to film festivals!
Which proves your point about the insularity (and, I would add, rank arrogance of the Hollywood elitists!) - they're subject to the law just like everybody else.
No-one said that the Geneva convention applies to film festivals.
You're ignoring the subtler point that freedom of speech (not the official right enshrined in the US constitution, just the concept) is achieved by creating and maintaining venues where it's safe to be unpopular. I think that Polanski should have stayed and faced justice rather than running, but as a separate issue, I see the value in having film festivals be neutral territory. For example, if a political prisoner is on the run from an oppressive regime, I would support them being able to screen a documentary and give a talk about their experiences to raise awareness, without fear of being nabbed and extradited. Like every freedom in a just society, it works both ways - for the innocent and the guilty. And I'm ok with that.
There's a difference between being unpopular and being a sex offender.
Problem is this. You people sometimes forget that the people who actually ARE above the law are the politicians and major corporations' heads who make their money through bribery and illegal acts.
Do you HONESTLY think our congress should be above the bribery laws in this country?! Do you think if the government gave you a grant then you spent it belligerently on yourself as a bonus they would let that go?!
At least Hollywood elites make their money through people VOLUNTARILY giving them money in exchange for entertainment. Our fucking congress takes our tax dollars to represent us then takes money from corporations to fuck us.
Problem is this. You people sometimes forget that the people who actually ARE above the law are the politicians and major corporations' heads who make their money through bribery and illegal acts.
Do you HONESTLY think our congress should be above the bribery laws in this country?! Do you think if the government gave you a grant then you spent it belligerently on yourself as a bonus they would let that go?!
At least Hollywood elites make their money through people VOLUNTARILY giving them money in exchange for entertainment. Our fucking congress takes our tax dollars to represent us then takes money from corporations to fuck us.
She clearly said that Polanski was her friend. Thus, her support for him seemed like an obvious knee-jerk reaction.
If my own friend was accused of a gruesome crime (like rape or murder), well, how do you think I'm gonna react? I'll probably feel devastated, shocked, confused...and then rally behind my friend... even if it was a horrible crime. Eventually, it'd take time for me to accept that my friend committed a crime and maybe my feelings for the friend would change.
just my opinion, though.
If one of my friends committed a rape, I'd help them get a good lawyer and - if I think they actually did it - I'd urge them to plead guilty and get the best deal they can with the district attorney and the judge.
Friendship is one thing - but supporting a felon is a whole other deal!
Polanski has had some truly terrible experiences in his lifetime, experiences that we couldn't even imagine and which should not be taken out of the equation ...
Yeah, so, I'm just wondering how many celebrities are going to whip up and sign a petition for the release of the Cleveland rapist/murderer based on the many terrible experiences I'm sure he's had in his life, or who's even going to feel a twinge badly that he's going to be more likely to get the death penalty because he's black. I wonder where the interest and sympathy is for black not-wealthy rapists' "terrible experiences." Given, Polanski didn't kill anyone, but I'm still pretty sure having had "terrible experiences" in one's life doesn't justify raping someone, and then admitting to it but still feeling like you're above the justice system and get to flee to your estates in Europe.
Agreed.
While I'm glad that she reconsidered her stance, I think it's another example of how so many people put their personal feelings towards the rapist (ie, a charming, tortured person), and impulsively supporting him, without actually taking the time to consider what his actions were. How many of them had read accounts of the victim's testimony?
I love Emma Thompson as an actress, but, again, as with all celebrities, her judgment can be off. (*coughs* Marrying Kenneth Branagh *coughs* ... sorry, really dislike that guy)
is the petition even a big deal, or merely symbolic for those in hollywood to feel like they did something to support their friend
This petition is a big deal for me, and many others who have been raped. People I admired such as Penelope Cruz, Emma Thompson and others signed a petition which excuses a rapist from his behaviour. That is wrong. I cannot even have DVD's made by the rape apologists in my house. You can tell me you disagree, and that people make mistakes all you like - my boyf does. But this petition made me feel really bad, and I wouldn't associate with a friend in my real life who I found out was a rape apologist, and wouldn't have that person in my house. Simples.
As for pressure to sign the petition - there was a lot from powerful Holywood players, but there comes a time when one has to have personal morals and if Emma Thompsom says she wasn't aware of the wording of the petition, and what it meant then quite frankly, I don't believe her. She's not a stupid woman, (with the exception of marrying Kenneth Branagh as raq sensibly points out!!!.)
NB. There is a thread on Feministe which explains how this petition is a big deal - can't link to it now as Feministe is in maintenance mode, but it was called something like 'Get Over It'. Very powerful thread.
Is there an updated list of those who have signed this petition? The most up to date I could find was from Oct. 7th.
Updated 29 October: http://www.sacd.fr/Tous-les-signataires-de-la-petition-pour-Roman-Polanski-All-signing-parties.1341.0.html
Not sure when these were last updated:
http://www.bernard-henri-levy.com/si-vous-souhaitez-signer-la-petition-pour-roman-polanski-2418.html
http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/39618660.html
Glad to read this, restores my respect for Thompson.
I just think there's a Hollywood idea of punishment - one of not being able being able to work on certain films, of not being able to enter the country, of being excluded from his peers despite his genius. His was a punishment that might be outside the traditional justice system but, still a grave sentence.
The general public says on the other hand, "Oh, you've been dining like a king in France! You won an Academy Award! You are rich and famous and have celebrity pals! You were never punished!"
I don't know. I'm not a Kevin Smith "Do the crime, do the time" style avenger. I think he has served at least a little bit of that time in his self-exile. He deserves to serve more of it still in jail in the U.S....
I still don't understand Emma Thompson for signing that letter. I've actually lost respect for her for changing her opinion so quickly. It seems she's worried about the opinion of her fans more than she is worried about what is the right thing to do.
Wow! What an awesome punishment it would be to live in france and have a fifteen year old lover! And he couldn't make ALL the movies he wanted to. My god, that must have made him feel like he was burning in the pits of hell. Where all the others in Hollywood who didn't rape and sodomize a 13 year old were wining and dining (kinda like they do in france) and having young lovers and making movies that were in the run for Academy Awards... Oh wait.
So, Polanski raped a little girl, and his so called "punishment" is that he can't attend the Oscars in person and have lunch with the Hollywood bigshots?
I'm sorry, but that's total nonsense!
Polanski is a brutal, violent, misogynist predator, who has shown absolutely no remorse for his violent brutal hate crime.
He's nothing more than a common criminal, and he deserves at least a decade of hard time in a maximum security prison and/or a locked ward forensic hospital for rapists - that would be real punishment - not drinking wine in Paris cafes and hanging out in his mansion in the Swiss Alps!
First off, I do wish people would stop saying he is a "genius." Rosemary's Baby sucked, Ninth Gate sucked, and I can't think of anything besides The Pianist that he's ever done that was worth a damn. And a Holocaust movie is such a cop out, ALL of those movies are good movies. So he is no genius.
Secondly, HE RAPED A CHILD. Fuck you if you think not being able to work on any movie he wanted to to be a just punishment.
I hate adult men having sex with teenaged girls as much as the next person, but she was thirteen, not five. All the cries of "CHILD!" are making me think of Helen Lovejoy. I find it ironic to read people making excuses for the eleven-year-old who gave birth and talking about teenaged parents who are "mature and responsible", but in THIS case, they talk about the victim as if she was a toddler who was torn in half. The inflammatory language is so self-serving.
Being drugged and raped is a horrible crime to be victimized by, no matter how old you are. There is no need to exaggerate in order to hammer home a point.
Uh..so if she was 12 instead of 13 could we say he raped a child? Then would it not be exaggerating? Or would it be "She was a pre-teen, not a child like 5"
Adults are not allowed to have sex with 13 year olds. If you have trouble with this concept, please leave your location and name on this thread so I can make sure never to expose my family to you.
I will always have respect for people who have the strength to change their minds. This is of course very circumstantial because I'm not going to have respect for a pro-choice person who decides to become anti-choice. But in this case, when (for me) there is a clear right and wrong and when Emma Thompson has to deal with peer pressure, a history of personal friendship and an insulated community where she lives, I am very glad about how things turned out. I think it's easy to be in our position where things are much clearer than foggy Hollywood to make the "right" decision.
And Kenneth Brannagh is a damn fine actor. Wow, casting aspersions on someone's judgment because they married an actor whom we have had absolutely no contact with (I'm assuming here, but if you've worked with him and know that he is not likable, that's a different thing an this remark of mine can be ignored) is a bit presumptuous.
"things are much clearer than foggy Hollywood to make the "right" decision."
How does this work exactly?
How about substituting "Hollywood" for teenagers, or men, or any group of people you care to insert, and adding "about rape" at the end? Change the meaning at all?
"things are much clearer [for women] than for foggy men to make the "right" decision about raping women, about raping children, about sentencing rapists to a life of luxury in Europe."
Sounds good doesn't it!!!
Damm all rape apologists.
Wow, did you just call me a rape apologist because I think people should be given second chances? And I didn't even mean that the rapists should be given second chances, but people who can't get a clear idea of what happens because they're too close to everything.
I am happy for you that you live in this ivory tower where you can make the exactly correct judgments on every issue. Because what I understand from what you're saying is that I cannot even feel good about someone changing their mind about something after they've found out the truth about it. Cuz they shouldn't have had the incorrect stand in the first place! Right?
Do you think Hollywood, which I see as a community, can be substituted for a generic group based on age, gender or whatever else you seem to add? Let me put my stand this way. If you're too close to someone, it is difficult to see them as they really are sometimes. Not all of us have perfect vision when it comes to people.
You know what else is fucked up about your ivory tower? There is no alternative recourse. When someone makes the wrong decision, that is IT, irrespective of the degree of crime. I will never apologize for rapists, but if a rape apologist changes their mind about it based on reason, I will be HAPPY about it. I'm sorry that you cannot see anything good about the world we live in.
If what I just typed seems harsh, I am sorry about that. But calling me a rape apologist because I am optimistic is not only insulting, it is hurtful.
This isn't about making the perfect decision EVERY time. Roman Polanski has had countless chances to do right. He had a second chance to turn himself in the day after he fled the country. He had a third chance the day after that. He had a fourth chance the day after that. Polanski raped a 13 year-old. I see that less as a "mistake" and more of a deliberate action, but, fine, let's call it a mistake. He has been actively AVOIDING redressing that mistake in the state of CA. That's compounding the "mistake" day after day. That's not okay.
Who is talking about Roman Polanski here? You are the only one talking about him. I am talking about Emma Thompson, who is the subject of this write up. Please stick to the issue at hand and stop derailing the discussion simply because you are not able to respond to my statements.
I even stated on my first line that I wasn't talking about rapists but people who don't know or didn't find out what happened and started to support the rapist. Where id you get the idea that I was backing that rapist? Please read what I wrote again and get back to me with examples.
"Wow, did you just call me a rape apologist"
NO I didn't. I don't understand how you took it that way, but I apologise that what I wrote enabled you to do so.
As I have written before - Emma Thompson is very socially aware and undertakes campaigns regarding trafficed women amongst other things. I don't believes Thompson lives in an ivory tower, and as others have pointed out - it was after considering that she had upset her fan base (the source of money) that she changed her mind.
I don't believe one strike and you are out - that would lead to a very closed and harsh world. I have written and said things here, and elsewhere which were ignorant and when others pointed them out it led me go read up and re-consider my opinions. BUT, I don't believe Thompson is ignorant about rape, and actually needed teaching the error of her ways. Thompson wasn't one of the intitial signatures on the list and would of been aware of the outcry in the media and elsewhere before she signed it.
You know I think we're both arguing for the same side. I'm sorry about my rant if you weren't calling me a rape apologist. I felt that you were and took offense.
I don't know about Emma Thompson's motivations for chaning her mind. Maybe she didn't know all the facts (like she says after reading the petition according to the OP) or maybe she had an economic motive. I am just happy that at least some actors are moving to the other side.
insomniac: I think we are too. I would have taken offense too if I had read it in that way!
I should have been clearer - I meant all the people speaking up for Polanski (in the petition and in the media), and there seem to be a hell of a lot of them - far too many! It triggered me greatly and made me very angry.
I'm off to read Howards End and re-read The Remains of the Day as I sure can't watch them again. The English Patient is a good book too :)
So she didn't see anything wrong with supporting Polanski herself, but if it bothers her fans she'll accept our moral outrage as her own. Great.
It is good to know that bloggers do matter, regardless of how powerless we often feel at times.
This is good news, but it makes it even more obvious that these pro-polanski petition signers didn't bother learning about the situation, which is just such a bummer...
It boggles my mind that they signed the petition to begin with, and boggles my mind that once the public outcry and protestations began they STILL didn't bother to read up on the issue.
Many thanks to Caitlin for speaking up directly to Ms. Thompson.
Can movie types not work the internets or something?
The jealousy that you seem to feel for Hollywood actors should not color your opinion of crime and punishment.
The truth is, many many many times, people rally behind others they know well when they commit a crime. It happens in all walks of life, not just Hollywood so get off it already people.
Emma Thompson has felt the pressure of friends like, I'm sure many of you have from middle school on up to your water cooler. Perhaps you passed on gossip or treated a coworker badly based on a friend's information regardless of your knowledge of the situation. Everyone acts stupid sometimes but she obviously is a better person for realizing she did.
Also, just think, many of the people who didn't sign the petition probably had friends urging them against it. In other situations, perhaps they would have rallied behind another person. Just give her credit for doing the right thing and stop lashing out over her celebrity status bc you wish you had it.
Lol! Yes, the jealousy I feel for Hollywood actors colours my opinion of wanting to see rapists being puinshed for their crime completely.
I've not seen Kate Winslett supporting Polanski. Perhaps she doesn't talk to her husband, perhaps he isn't her friend?!?