Quentin Tarantino Says 13-Year-Old Victim 'Wanted' To Have Sex With Roman Polanski

Audio from a 2003 radio interview between director Quentin Tarantino and Howard Stern resurfaced on Monday, causing outrage over Tarantino’s opinion on Roman Polanski’s 1977 rape case. Jezebel released the audio, in which Stern asked Tarantino on his show why Hollywood supported Polanski, who Stern referred to as "this madman, this director who raped a 13-year-old."

Tarantino responded, “He didn’t rape a 13-year-old. It was statutory rape. [...] He had sex with a minor. That’s not rape. To me, when you use the word rape, you’re talking about violent, throwing them down — it’s like one of the most violent crimes in the world. You can’t throw the word rape around. It’s like throwing the word ‘racist’ around. It doesn’t apply to everything people use it for.”

Stern’s co-host reminded Tarantino that the victim was just 13 years old.

“No, that was not the case AT ALL,” Tarantino replied. “She wanted to have it and dated the guy and—”

Co-host Robin Quivers interrupted, exclaiming, “She was 13!”

When it was brought up that he drugged her with "booze and pills," Tarantino said, “Look, she was down with this.”
Polanski pleaded guilty to engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, after allegedly drugging and raping 13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977 at Jack Nicholson’s Mulholland Drive home when Nicholson was out of town. According to Esquire, he lured her there with the promise of photographing her for a French issue of Vogue.

Geimer told the New York Daily News, "I hope he [Tarantino] doesn't make an a** of himself and keep talking that way."

Tarantino's next film will reportedly focus on the murder of Sharon Tate, Polanski's wife who was brutally killed by the Manson Family. Polanski is expected to play "a key role" in the film, according to Variety.

Tarantino has not released a statement at this time.

[Photo: Getty Images]