Tarantino Says He “Knew Enough” About Weinstein, But Hopes It Won’t Affect How We See Him
"Anything I say now will sound like a crappy excuse."
Well, it turns out acclaimed film director Quentin Tarantino knew about some elements of Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexually predatory behaviour and did nothing about it, according to an explosive new interview released this morning.
“I knew enough to do more than I did”, he told The New York Times. “There was more to it than just the normal rumours, the normal gossip. It wasn’t secondhand. I knew he did a couple of these things.” The director specifically said he knew of Rose McGowan’s settlement with the producer, as well as several incidents with other actresses. His former girlfriend, Mira Sorvino, alleged Weinstein made unwelcome advances towards her too.
Tarantino has worked closely with Weinstein since the ’90s, and since the allegations against the producer have surfaced, people have been questioning whether he could have possibly been in the dark about the dozens of instances of alleged abuse. The producer’s previous collaborators like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have said they knew nothing.
if only Quentin Tarantino had dated ALL the women in Hollywood this unpleasantness could have been avoided, wow pic.twitter.com/nKYG3hJ8eR
— Andi Zeisler (@andizeisler) October 19, 2017
Tarantino also said he wishes he had taken responsibility for what he’d heard and done something about it. “If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him,” he said. “What I did was marginalise the incidents. Anything I say now will sound like a crappy excuse.”
And look, yeah — given that Tarantino worked with Weinstein on a long list of films (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, the list goes on) while knowing — it does not look great.
Responses to Tarantino’s admission have ranged from outright rage to conflicted respect for his apology. On the one hand, the apology is a rare example of a man actually owning up to his error and acknowledging it. Tarantino also followed up his comments by calling on other men who knew more to do the right thing and admit it, and support women better in the future.
“I’m calling on the other guys who knew more to not be scared,” he said. “Don’t just give out statements. Acknowledge that there was something rotten in Denmark. Vow to do better by our sisters.”
Really honest response by Tarantino, walking through his history. I appreciate people talking this way. It’s hard to do. https://t.co/JZsceYvO8u
— emily nussboo (@emilynussbaum) October 19, 2017
On the other hand, ignoring multiple counts of alleged abuse in favour of a working relationship is no small error. As Tarantino put it, he should have known better. And then there’s the bit where he said he hopes his admission doesn’t colour the way fans perceive him or his work. Yeah, look, nah.
excited for tarantino's shitty revisionist history movie where he castrates a harvey weinstein-like character and pats himself on the back
— pilot (@pilotbacon) October 19, 2017
It takes breathtakingly huge balls to be as complicit as Tarantino was and still think you can urge Hollywood men to be more upstanding pic.twitter.com/vPH1EujtgY
— Anna Merlan (@annamerlan) October 19, 2017
I hated Tarantino before, and now, forget it, just another guy who could have done something, but benefitted from the status quo
— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) October 19, 2017
–
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Men can access anonymous confidential telephone counselling to help to stop using violent and controlling behaviour through the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.