VIDEO: Actresses Storm Out of Ceremony after Roman Polanksi Win Despite Rape Accusations

Roman Polanski won France’s Cesar Award for best directing for his film ‘An Officer and a Spy,’ prompting a walkout by several women in the audience in protest at honouring a man facing rape accusations. 

The ceremony took place in Paris on Friday amid protests by women’s rights activists as director Roman Polanski was awarded the best director award for his latest film.

Polanski decided to skip the Cesar awards ceremony because of protests by women’s groups denouncing the 12 nominations ‘An Officer and a Spy’ received, after a French woman brought a new rape accusation against him.

At the announcement of Polanski’s award as best director, some boos emerged from the public, composed of film teams and cinema professionals.

A l'annonce du César de la Meilleure Réalisation pour Roman Polanski ("J'accuse"), Adèle Haenel quitte la salle.

Le meilleur des #César2020 > https://t.co/ipnVwouBeV pic.twitter.com/7xa0CTbU3H

— CANAL+ (@canalplus) February 28, 2020

Actress Adele Haenel, who recently denounced alleged sexual assault by another French director when she was 15, got up and walked out of the room.

‘Distinguishing Polanski is spitting in the face of all victims. It means raping women isn’t that bad,’ Haenel told the New York Times earlier this week.