A defamation trial against controversial director Roman Polanski is currently underway in Paris. The 90-year-old Franco-Polish filmmaker is facing a lawsuit from British actor Charlotte Lewis, who alleges that he defamed her by dismissing her sexual assault accusations as a 'heinous lie' in a 2019 interview with Paris Match magazine.
Lewis first came forward with her allegations against Polanski in 2010, claiming that the director sexually assaulted her in Paris in 1983 when she was 16 years old. She recounted traveling to Paris for a casting call and later appearing in Polanski's 1986 movie 'Pirates.'
Polanski has a history of sexual assault allegations dating back to 1977 when he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor as part of a plea bargain, subsequently fleeing the U.S. to continue his career in Europe, where he remains a fugitive from the U.S. legal system.
In 2018, Polanski was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences due to the allegations against him. However, in March 2023, Samantha Gailey, the victim from the 1977 case, expressed forgiveness towards Polanski in an interview with him and his wife, Emmanuelle Seigner, stating that anyone advocating for his imprisonment is mistaken.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Polanski has persisted in making films, with his latest work, 'The Palace,' premiering at the Venice Film Festival in 2023. Notably, Polanski opted to maintain a low profile and did not attend the film's debut.
While Polanski has a residence in Paris, he will not be physically present at the trial, with his legal team representing him. On the other hand, Lewis is expected to be in attendance as the legal proceedings continue.
