you know she is a kid!!!!!! Maybe the aggressor, but still a kid, he's a married man and the adult in this situation.

SMART, skanky, goldigging opportunist!  Don't forget smart.  She did come out of this with $$$$

Jesus Christ, sweatpantsmom, she was SEVENTEEN years old.  I know that's not the same as twelve, but it's still a minor, it's still on this side of being a child.  And you say it's inexplicable that Brinkley made a statement that she forgives the girl?  After being manipulated by a high powered man with a lot of money?  

Seventeen is considered legally an adult in most states.  Hence the likely reason he has not been charged with sexual assault of a minor/child.

Uneven power dynamic--he made the advances.  I would not let her off the hook entirely, 17 is old enough to know not to have sex with a married man and she obviously got something out of this relationship, but what happened is HIS fault--at least 90%.  He was the one with the money, the power, the experience and...let's not forget...the marriage.  Not good to help someone else break their marriage vows, much worse to break them yourself.

Um...I'm not thinking she's skanky.  I'm thinking she's a kid lured by things that many older, wiser people have often been tempted by.  He's a pedophile.

I think a 17 year old is really too young to make wise decisions about men and can definitely be overawed by a wealthy, powerful man. I certainly did promiscuous things as a very young woman I wouldn't dream of doing now at 38. I pretty much assume any older man sniffing around after teenagers is the morally bankrupt one. A 17 year old isn't old enough to have really formed much of a moral system. At 17, you still think you're immortal.

... i think i have to agree w/ mama luxe on this one and split the blame 90/10. that uneven power dynamic is the flashpoint here.  i thought i was a super-duper worldly sophisticate at 17- looking back from the lofty age of 42, i know i was a goofy kid.  i was flattered (and a little creeped out) when older men showed interest and certainly thought it was because he viewed us as equals.  HAH!  i also  think that ones moral code takes a while to develop.  the thing to do is watch what she does next.  does she quietly go back to her studies and boys her own age or does she pose in Playboy and marry Woody Allen?  oh, and one more (shallow) thing- while Bianchi is a cute kid, what kind of moron cheats on Christie Brinkley?  if mr. cook had a heart or soul, i'd say he should be ashamed of himself.

At 17 you're not a little kid anymore, but not a fully adult person yet either.  The body says "grown-up" but the moral and thinking-things-out development are absmally (usually) not very far along.  She's not exactly completely a victim, I believe. I think the split is more like 75/25. There is no doubt he took advantage of her. He knew better. She could've said no, but she liked the attention.   Wouldn't it be great if humans grew up mental and maturity wise before the body did?