Roman Polanski says #MeToo movement is ‘mass hysteria’
Film director and convicted child rapist threatens to sue Movie Academy over ‘illegal’ expulsion
French-Polish film director Roman Polanski dismissed the #MeToo movement as “mass hysteria” in an interview shortly before he was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it has emerged.
The Academy, which organises the Oscars, kicked out the 84-year-old movie maker last week, along with comedian Bill Cosby, “in accordance with the organisation’s Standards of Conduct” in light of sexual assault cases against both men.
Polanski is now threatening to sue over the decision. His lawyer, Harland Braun, has sent a letter to Academy president John Bailey arguing that the group violated the law by expelling Polanski without giving him a chance to “present his side”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The threat comes days after Polanski gave his views on the #MeToo movement, in which victims are speaking out about sexual assault allegations in the movie industry and beyond, during an interview with the Polish edition of Newsweek.
Polanski said: “I think this is the kind of mass hysteria that occurs in society from time to time.
“Sometimes it’s very dramatic, like the French Revolution or the St Bartholomew’s Day massacre in France, or sometimes it’s less bloody, like 1968 in Poland or McCarthyism in the US.
“Everyone is trying to back this movement, mainly out of fear... I think it’s total hypocrisy.”
Polanski, who currently lives in France, is wanted in the US for the 1977 rape of Samantha Geimer, who was 13 at the time. Geimer has said that she has forgiven Polanski, reports The Daily Telegraph, and has criticised the Academy’s decision to expel him as “an ugly and cruel action which serves only appearance”.
Polanski has long claimed that the sex between him and Geimer was consensual, despite pleading guilty in 1978 to unlawful sex with a minor.
A member of his legal team said that comparing Polanski’s crimes to those of Cosby was “a total misunderstanding and harassment”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published