Quentin Tarantino apologizes to Roman Polanski victim: 'I realize how wrong I was'

Quentin Tarantino has been in hot water this week for many reasons, most recently a resurfaced interview from 2003 with Howard Stern in which he said Roman Polanski's rape victim "wanted it." After a day of online fury, he notes he did reach out to Polanski's victim on Wednesday to apologize.

"Fifteen years later, I realize how wrong I was," he said in a statement to IndieWire.

In the 2003 interview, Tarantino defended Polanski (who has avoided the United States and any countries that might extradite him here since 1978). He described victim Samantha Geimer as a "13-year-old party girl."

Geimer, now 54, responded Wednesday saying that Tarantino was wrong and "I hope he doesn't make an ass of himself and keep talking that way."

"He is obviously incorrect. Hopefully by now he knows that it didn't happen that way," she said.

Tarantino's full statement suggests that he has learned something in the past 15 years, and his apology – a rarity these days – does actually contain the words "I am sorry."

Via IndieWire:

I want to publicly apologize to Samantha Geimer for my cavalier remarks on “The Howard Stern Show” speculating about her and the crime that was committed against her. Fifteen years later, I realize how wrong I was. Ms. Geimer WAS raped by Roman Polanski. When Howard brought up Polanski, I incorrectly played devil’s advocate in the debate for the sake of being provocative. I didn’t take Ms. Geimer’s feelings into consideration and for that I am truly sorry.

So, Ms. Geimer, I was ignorant, and insensitive, and above all, incorrect.

I am sorry Samantha.

Quentin Tarantino