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MSNBC Drops Sam Seder After Alt-Right Takes Roman Polanski Tweet Out of Context

Sam Seder / YouTube Screenshot
December 5, 2017

MSNBC has cut ties with network contributor Sam Seder for an old tweet about the rape accusations against film director Roman Polanski, despite Seder's defenders saying he was taken out of context.

Seder tweeted in 2009, "Don't care re Polanski, but I hope if my daughter is ever raped it is by an older truly talented man w/a great sense of mise en scene."

The tweet has since been deleted.

Seder's tweet attracted no notice at the time, but alt-right personality Michael Cernovich recently dug up the post and led a lobbying campaign to get him dropped from MSNBC. The Wrap reported Monday that the campaign worked, and that MSNBC will not renew Seder's contract, which ends in February.

The move immediately ignited outrage on social media, where Seder's defenders argued the tweet was meant to be taken sarcastically and as an indictment of Polanski, who pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor and fled the country before his sentencing in 1978.

MSNBC's decision was even indirectly criticized by network host Chris Hayes.

At the time of Seder's tweet, the Washington Post had published two separate defenses of Polanski. Hundreds of film executives also signed a petition calling for Polanski to be released from police custody.

Other tweets show Seder was a critic of those excusing Polanski's actions.

Seder told the Post on Tuesday that, after seeing his 2009 tweet resurface, he sent an email to Errol Cockfield, senior vice president of communications at MSNBC, explaining that the old post was a satirical attempt to express his "disgust" with those who would excuse Polanski's actions.

"I wrote that tweet out of disgust with those who were excusing or were seeking to advocate forgiveness for Polanski's actions which caused him to flee the U.S.," Seder said. "I was appalled that anyone would diminish the seriousness of rape, particularly of a child by citing the perpetrator's artistic contributions. Obviously, I would not wish any harm of my daughter or any other person."

"I am confident that other tweets from that time will reflect my disgust in a less satirical tone," he added.

Published under: MSNBC