Quentin Tarantino can be heard defending Roman Polanksi against rape claims and making disparaging remarks about his victim, Samantha Geimer, in audio footage of the 2003 interview.

Asked by Howard Stern why Hollywood continues to embrace “this mad man, this director who raped a 13-year-old,” Tarantino replies: “He didn’t rape a 13-year-old. It was statutory rape… he had sex with a minor. That’s not rape.”

The director continues: “To me, when you use the word rape, you’re talking about violent, throwing them down – it’s like one of the most violent crimes in the world. You can’t throw the word rape around. It’s like throwing the word ‘racist’ around. It doesn’t apply to everything people use it for.”

When Stern and his co-host, Robin Quivers, argue that it was still wrong due to the fact that Samantha Geimer was a minor, Tarantino stands his ground saying that “he was down with this”.

“She wanted to have it and dated the guy,” he argues, dismissing allegations that Polanski had given the child “booze and pills” prior to their sexual encounter.

Understandably, Tarantino’s ignorant comments sparked outrage online – and Geimer has since come forward to point out that what Polanski did to her was, by any definition, rape.

“[Tarantino] was wrong,” she tells the New York Daily News. “I hope he doesn’t make an ass of himself and keep talking that way.”

Geimer adds: “I’m not upset, but I would probably feel better if he realises now that he was wrong, after 15 years, after hearing the facts. Nobody has to be pissed off on my behalf. I’m OK.”

Quentin Tarantino apologises after saying 13-year-old rape victim “wanted to have” sex