The woman who was drugged and raped by Roman Polanski when she was underage has spoken out to say she forgives the pedophile director.
Samantha Geimer, now 54, was just 13 years old when Polanski plied her with champagne and drugs during a photoshoot in Los Angeles before attacking her.
But Geimer told Good Morning Britain that she forgave Polanski ‘almost as soon as it happened’ and was more traumatized by the ensuing court case and press coverage.
Speaking to hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid, she said: ‘I forgave him many years ago, almost immediately after it had happened. Forgiveness doesn’t come hard to me.
Samantha Geimer, 54, told Good Morning Britain that she forgive Roman Polanski for drugging and raping her, and says she was more traumatized by the court case
Geimer was just 13 when she was given champagne and half a quaalude by Polanski during a photo shoot, before he raped her as she told him to stop
‘What he did, did not affect me greatly. What happened with the court and the media traumatized my whole family and changed our whole lives.
‘I want the misconduct in the case investigated, to show that the judge lied and that Roman did the right thing. Sentence him to time served and dismiss the case.
‘Whatever they can do to end the case before I have to explain it to my a granddaughter. It’s been 40 years.’
Geimer appeared in court earlier this year to try and get the case dismissed but her appeal was refused, with the judge saying he could not dismiss a case ‘merely because it would be in the victim’s best interest.’
Polanski confessed as part of a plea deal but fled America for France, where he remains to this day, as he feared being jailed
Polanski was accused of attacking Geimer during a photoshoot at the home of Jack Nicholson in 1977 while the actor was away.
Geimer said she was plied with champagne, which was brought by Polanski, and half a quaalude pill before he performed oral, vaginal, and anal sex acts upon her despite her repeatedly telling her no.
Polanski initially denied the claims, but later pleaded guilty as part of a deal which saw some of the charges dropped.
He served 42 days in jail while a psychological evaluation was carried out, then released pending his sentencing, in the expectation that he would only be given further probation.
But it is alleged that LA Deputy District Attorney David Wells, who was not directly involved in the case, approached judge Laurence J. Rittenband with images of Polanski with his arms around young girls.
Wells allegedly used the images to convince Rittenband that Polanski should not be allowed to go free, despite such a meeting being in breach of ethical laws.
Fearing jail time, Polanski fled first to England and then to his home country of France, which refused to extradite him to America. He has remained there since.
Geimer appeared in court earlier this year when she asked a judge to throw the case out, but was told it could not be dismissed ‘merely because it would be in the victim’s best interest’
Polanski (pictured in 1970) admitted in his autobiography that the encounter took place, but denies drugging Geimer and says the activity was consensual
Geimer spoke out after dozens of Hollywood actresses came forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein of rape, sexual abuse and harassment dating back decades.
Others shared stories of abuse at the hands of men both inside and outside the industry in order to try and break the silence that has surrounded the issue.
America Ferrera used her Instagram to reveal she had been abused aged nine by a ‘grown man’ who she had to see for years afterward.
Meanwhile Reese Witherspoon spoke up to say she was attacked by a director aged 16 as she was starting out in Hollywood.
The Legally Blonde star spoke at an event in front of her own 18-year-old daughter Ava Phillippe on Monday night.
Weinstein has denied any allegations of non-consensual sex.