Helen Mirren -- Rape Isn't Always Criminal

Hellen MirrenThis will raise some eyebrows. Helen Mirren says she's been the victim of date-rape before, but if a woman says no at the last second, don't go whining your way into court.

CNN.com got a copy of a GQ story that's about to be published, in which Mirren calls date-rape a "tricky area," something best worked out between the parties.

Mirren says if a couple is heavy into sexual activity and the woman says "no" at the last second, technically it's rape, but, "I don't think she can have that man into court under those circumstances. I guess it is one of the subtle parts of the men/women relationship that has to be negotiated and worked out between them."

UPDATE
: Mirren's rep issued the following statement: "Helen Mirren does not dispute the accuracy of statements attributed to her in an upcoming GQ article. She merely asks that people read the article in its entirety before drawing conclusions. If they do that, she says, their conclusions will likely be far less sweeping and sensational than those drawn by some in the popular press. She does not wish to qualify any of her remarks. She just wants to avoid having them presented in inflammatory language."



Reader Comments

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16. So, if a guy agrees to give someone ten thousand dollars, but has a change of heart at the last moment, by Mirren's asinine reasoning it would not be theft if the other person took the money and kept it.

Actors should keep their mouths shut about substantive issues because they are morons with too much influence. Shame on you, Helen Mirren.

No means no.

Posted at 12:16PM on Sep 1st 2008 by NO MEANS NO - it's a no-brainer

17. Some stupid loser boys always try to hide behind the "men can't control themselves, it's how they're programmed" statement.

If that's true, men should not be allowed in positions of authority. You are too weak, too emotional, too out of control.

Perhaps that's why the world is such a mess.

Men are responsible for the wars, for most crime, and a medical study came out last week showing that men are responsible for spreading more disease due to a mechanism of testosterone.

Start taking responsibility for yourselves, and don't put the burden of controlling yourself on the woman. If a man can't control himself and not rape, HE should not be having sex. The boys who support her dumb comment are probably porn addicts who can never get a date and hate women for it. It always is.

Grow up, losers.

Posted at 12:26PM on Sep 1st 2008 by Loserz

18. She is off her rocker!! I'm sick hearing that "date-rape" is ANY different than RAPE. Just because the guy didn't jump out of the bushes in a dark alley, and rape you.....doesn't take away from the fact the the girls/women that are date raped are tramatized just as much. I'm a date-rape victim, and as a result, got pregnant. I kept the child, who just turned 2 years old. She should REALLY think about what she's saying. I've always been a fan of hers.....but not so much now.

Posted at 4:17PM on Sep 1st 2008 by Mcpickle

19. PS....just beca use it's called Date Rape, doesn't mean you are in the process of having sex!! I was JUST on a date when this happened.....there was no "getting busy" or "leading him on" before hand....so it's not all about a girll getting the guy ready to climax and then saying NO!

Posted at 4:17PM on Sep 1st 2008 by Mcpickle

20. #10 Peter Pan: "Asking him to stop in a state of heightened excitement is not just unfair, but should be prosecuted." LMAO!! Would orgasm interruption be a misdemeanor or a felony? GROW UP, idiot.,

Posted at 1:47PM on Sep 1st 2008 by Larue

21. Ugh helen ugh....date rape doesn't refer to being rape while on a date its in reference is being a victim of the date rape Drug like GHB or Rohypnol which are central nervous system depressants theres no saying no at the last second if you've been druggggeedddddd but she's done enough drugs in her day must be nothing but candy to her.

Posted at 1:01PM on Sep 1st 2008 by annied

22. #18-annied,

Date raped DOES = DATE raped
Drugged and raped = DRUGGED and raped



Posted at 1:52PM on Sep 1st 2008 by my2.5cent

23. So... alot of the people seem to think that, say... if it became painful for a female or it's too rough or she's simply not enjoying it for any number of reasons, she better just suck it up and take it because hey, they already started! better keep going?

Pigs.

No is no, and if someone says no they have a reason to do so and it's not up to the other person to decide if that reason is good enough. I see what she's saying, but no.

Posted at 1:50PM on Sep 1st 2008 by wow

24. No means no, unless she really means Yes!

Hey, some gals like that whole "Take Me!" thing. Or, maybe a test to see how much he really wants it. Is he man enough to take what he wants? If he really wants me, he won't take no for an answer.

Ask enough married women and you'll find that a lot them have husbands who didn't take "no" for an answer.

Posted at 2:26PM on Sep 1st 2008 by hmm...

25. Ok, so here's my case. When I was a young, naive virgin, I didn't want to have sex. The guy said, "Let me just rub it on yours" and then decided to shove it in anyway. So I had no right to complain? I cried, "Now I'm not a virgin anymore!" and he had the gaul to say, "Does it matter?" What do you think of that.

Posted at 2:29PM on Sep 1st 2008 by Anonymous

26. I don't know if I should be surpised by what she said or by the fact that someone actually raped her! She is very disgusting in any sense.

Posted at 2:44PM on Sep 1st 2008 by Interesting

27. 15. So, if a guy agrees to give someone ten thousand dollars, but has a change of heart at the last moment, by Mirren's asinine reasoning it would not be theft if the other person took the money and kept it.

Actors should keep their mouths shut about substantive issues because they are morons with too much influence. Shame on you, Helen Mirren.

No means no.

Posted at 12:16PM on Sep 1st 2008 by NO MEANS NO - it's a no-brainer

RIGHT ON! RIGHT ON! RIGHT ON!

Posted at 3:21PM on Sep 1st 2008 by Dewdrop

28. #20, well said. If a woman changes her mind, for whatever reason (doesn't matter) and says no or stop and he isn't listening is one thing, but if she is physically trying to stop him and/or get away, then he is forcing himself on her, that is rape and the animal should go to prison and have sex forced upon him by Big Bubba and his buddies and see how the pig likes it forced onto him!

Posted at 2:39PM on Sep 1st 2008 by sugarberries

29. @15
Sex isn't money you idiot.

Of course "NO" will always mean "NO", so if you don't want sex you talk it beforehand so in case something goes wrong you can complain, if the partners say "yes" with their bodies and nothing with their mouth it's because they are supposed to at least trust each other.

Posted at 2:53PM on Sep 1st 2008 by Karla

30. ANNIED- you are wrong, the term date rape was around long before the date-rape drug.

Posted at 2:43PM on Sep 1st 2008 by pebbles

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