I get so mad when people talk about Roman Polanski

…and say that he should be put on some pedestal because he’s an artist. Bullshit. According to the laws of this country, he’s a rapist. He did something wrong, and he has to own up to it just like everyone else. And this ‘artist’ crap? Yeah, you know who else was an artist? Hitler. Do a few landscapes make him any less of a monster? No, no they don’t.

Here’s the thing - sure, we can talk about Polanski’s movies and how awesome they are - I mean, Chinatown is an absolutely fantastic film and should be a mainstay in teaching the craft - but it doesn’t change who he is. We shouldn’t let how great the work is affect how we view the director. Michael Bay made Armageddon, which is one of my favorite I-always-watch-it-when-it’s-on-TV movies, but it doesn’t make him any less of an asshole. Kevin Smith has produced probably the largest cult-classic body of work since Mel Brooks was on his game, but he’s still a bit of douche. And James Cameron - well, I just don’t like him.

So when you talk about Roman Polanski, talk about what he is: a coward who had sex with a 13-year-old and ran away to avoid punishment.

This has been a public service announcement.