The controversy dates back to 1977, when Polanski, who directed several iconic films including Rosemary’s Baby, departed the United States after being accused of the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl. Six charges of administering drugs and raping 13-year-old Samantha Jane Gailey (now Samantha Geimer) were brought against Polanski on March 10, 1977. The allegations included drug-related rape, sodomy, lewd and lascivious acts against children under the age of 14, unlawful sexual relations with a female under the age of 18, perversion, and providing a controlled substance to a juvenile. As a result, Polanski eventually entered a guilty plea to a separate allegation of having sex with a minor without authorization.
He has stayed in Europe since then, currently residing in Paris. But in 2009, as part of an extradition deal between the US and Switzerland, he was detained in Zurich. This led to a legal dispute that ultimately resulted in Switzerland proclaiming him free.
Lynch, Martin Scorsese, and Wes Anderson were among the more than 160 Hollywood celebrities who signed a petition at the time demanding Polanski’s release. The contentious decision was recently revealed in a TikTok video, to which Lynch’s daughter, Jennifer Lynch, answered on her father’s behalf after his death earlier this year, even though the director never publicly mentioned it.
In a long remark beneath the video, she wrote:
“This was a very tough situation and conversation for me with Dad. I found out he signed it after he had done it, and when we spoke, I was both heartbroken and angry. We had words about it, but he never defended doing it. He said he wished he had talked to me beforehand because, as he saw it, he was joining many other artists in trying to help Polanski try to redeem himself. Dad and I did not always agree. I can tell you that after our conversation, he regretted signing it. He had done it for the wrong reasons and had ignored the horrible actions of an artist whose work he respected. He was changed in our talk. I explained what his support said about him as a human being, and I didn’t think his true self would do that. Again, there is no justifying his signature, but there is explaining it, and taking note of his true regret. I understand people having heartbroken reactions to this. I had them myself. I know that ultimately he saw what he had done was wrong and was ignoring the abuse of a child…. For some reason…when he signed along with others, he did not think of the child…he thought of an artist who wanted back into the states and back into storytelling.”
She furthermore added, “It was wrong and callous for him to do. He saw that far too late, but he did see it. I was very upset about this, and I felt my perfect father had done something so out of character it devastated me. Again, not as a defense, but as an explanation… fellow artists were supporting Polanski, and Dad wanted to join in that. When he thought about it properly and clearly, he wished he could take it back. He was very sad to have to see this person he admired, as a pedophile. Sometimes our heroes do the wrong thing. I can say with certainty that his remorse was genuine and that he had to admit he wasn’t thinking about the crime… only.”
After getting a truck of thanks and gratitude from fans, she continued her reverie by saying again,
“Only about an artist who was shunned (for good reason). Again…I understand completely the reactions people are having. I can tell you he was changed after this. He had not done the math on his condoning abuse. I loved and respected my father for good reason, and although I am still furious that he did it, I see how he got there. By not considering the girl (child). I understand the disappointment. The rage. The shock. He did all he could to amend his choice. I know it haunted him. It was so very unlike his heart and mind to do something like that. He was careful to not make a choice like that again. Yes, he signed it. It was wrong. By the time our talk was ending, Dad saw that, and I believe opened himself in ways he needed to. If you asked him today, he would not sign it. I love my father and his compassionate heart and mind. It was not like him to be so wrong. I saw his remorse and found it to be genuine. Too late, but authentic. Once her knew better he did better. For a brief time he thought of Polanski as the victim. He was not. He was Bob, and the child was Laura Palmer.”
