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Women's groups and government officials had protested the choice last month of Polanski, an award-winning director of "The Pianist" and "Chinatown" who has been wanted in the United States for almost four decades over the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
The group Osez le Feminisme ("Dare to be Feminist") led to a petition drive for the 83-year-old to be removed which garnered nearly 62,000 signatures.
Less than a week after the announcement, the Polish-born Polanski, who also has French citizenship, said through his lawyer that he would withdraw from hosting the Cesars.
Last month the director won a legal battle in Poland to end US efforts there to extradite him.
He was also arrested in 2009 in Switzerland as authorities there acted on Washington's extradition request -- but that country ultimately decided not to respect the order.
The extradition campaign dates back to the 1970s. Polanski was accused of drugging Samantha Gailey before raping her at a friend's house in Los Angeles in 1977.
He pleaded guilty to having unlawful sex with a minor, or statutory rape, as part of a plea bargain, but later fled to France.
Meanwhile, he has led a prolific career as an esteemed filmmaker, earning eight Academy Awards and numerous international accolades.
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The group Osez le Feminisme ("Dare to be Feminist") led to a petition drive for the 83-year-old to be removed which garnered nearly 62,000 signatures.
Less than a week after the announcement, the Polish-born Polanski, who also has French citizenship, said through his lawyer that he would withdraw from hosting the Cesars.
Last month the director won a legal battle in Poland to end US efforts there to extradite him.
He was also arrested in 2009 in Switzerland as authorities there acted on Washington's extradition request -- but that country ultimately decided not to respect the order.
The extradition campaign dates back to the 1970s. Polanski was accused of drugging Samantha Gailey before raping her at a friend's house in Los Angeles in 1977.
He pleaded guilty to having unlawful sex with a minor, or statutory rape, as part of a plea bargain, but later fled to France.
Meanwhile, he has led a prolific career as an esteemed filmmaker, earning eight Academy Awards and numerous international accolades.
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