Not all of Hollywood pro-Polanski: Chris Rock, Bill Maher come out swinging

Smallscreen News

By April MacIntyre Oct 3, 2009, 19:38 GMT

A list of artsy cinematic bigwigs and suits have signed a petition to release Roman Polanski from his arrest, but not everyone in Hollywood is drinking the "Free Polanski" koolaid. Chris Rock - Chris Rock appeared on The Jay Leno show (Oct. 1) and also was incredulous at Hollywood's pandering to Polanski. © Rick Stephens / PR Photos

Chris Rock - Chris Rock appeared on The Jay Leno show (Oct. 1) and also was incredulous at Hollywood's pandering to Polanski. © Rick Stephens / PR PhotosEveryone is now familiar with the thirty-plus year old case of convicted child rapist and director Roman Polanski, who the Los Angeles Times reported had agreed to pay his victim Samantha Geimer "at least $500,000 as part of a civil settlement, but then failed to live up to the terms of the agreement, according to court filings reviewed Friday."In 1996, the LAT reports Geimer "was still trying to get the funds and even attempted to garnish his pay from movie studios. By the following year, she had stopped asking for court help to get paid and wrote a letter to a judge in support of Polanski returning to the United States and settling his criminal case without spending more time behind bars."On HBO's "Real Time" Friday night (Oct. 2), Bill Maher castigated Roman Polanski and Hollywood elite who rushed to defend the director for his calculated act against a then, thirteen-year old girl, drugged with a Quaalude and given alcohol, before anally, orally and vaginally raping her.Maher directed his criticism at those who would not draw a moral line with regards to the criminal act committed by Polanski.Maher also was interviewed by Joy Behar on her new chat show, and answered questions directly about the Polish director.

Chris Rock appeared on The Jay Leno show (Oct. 1) and also was incredulous at Hollywood's pandering to Polanski."People are defending Roman Polanski because he made good movies 30 years ago?" he said. "Are you kidding me? Even Johnny Cochran didn't have the nerve to go, 'Well did you see OJ play against New England?'"