Last week, Quentin Tarantino broke his silence on the sexual harassment and assault allegations against his long-time friend and collaborator Harvey Weinstein, claiming to be "stunned and heartbroken" in a message via Amber Tamblyn's Twitter account. He promised to further address the claims publicly, and now he's admitted that he's known about the allegations for years.
In an interview with the New York Times, the director says he feels ashamed for not taking a stronger stand against Weinstein, expressing regret at his decision to continuously work with the producer.
"I knew enough to do more than I did," he said. "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."
Tarantino said he knew about Weinstein's misconduct, hearing directly from his own former girlfriend Mira Sorvino about sexual advances and unwanted touching. He noted that another unnamed actress told him a similar story years later.
He also knew about the settlement Rose McGowan had reached with Weinstein, which was mentioned in the New York Times' original bombshell report.
"I wish I had taken responsibility for what I heard," Tarantino continued. "If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him."
He said he's repeatedly "marginalized the incidents" and regretted not taking the accusations more seriously sooner.
"I chalked it up to a '50s-'60s era image of a boss chasing a secretary around the desk," he said. "As if that's okay. That's the egg on my face right now."
As the Times reports, Tarantino has apparently tried to call Weinstein several times since the allegations became public in an attempt to make the producer "face the music," but has not received a reply.
When asked how the scandal might affect the public's perceptions of his own films, Tarantino ended by saying, "I hope it doesn't."
Tarantino and Weinstein have long been known for their close relationship in Hollywood. Since Weinstein distributed Reservoir Dogs in 1992, they've continued to work together on Pulp Fiction, the Kill Bill franchise, Inglourious Basterds and The Hateful Eight. A few weeks ago, Weinstein even threw Tarantino an engagement party.
In an interview with the New York Times, the director says he feels ashamed for not taking a stronger stand against Weinstein, expressing regret at his decision to continuously work with the producer.
"I knew enough to do more than I did," he said. "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."
Tarantino said he knew about Weinstein's misconduct, hearing directly from his own former girlfriend Mira Sorvino about sexual advances and unwanted touching. He noted that another unnamed actress told him a similar story years later.
He also knew about the settlement Rose McGowan had reached with Weinstein, which was mentioned in the New York Times' original bombshell report.
"I wish I had taken responsibility for what I heard," Tarantino continued. "If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him."
He said he's repeatedly "marginalized the incidents" and regretted not taking the accusations more seriously sooner.
"I chalked it up to a '50s-'60s era image of a boss chasing a secretary around the desk," he said. "As if that's okay. That's the egg on my face right now."
As the Times reports, Tarantino has apparently tried to call Weinstein several times since the allegations became public in an attempt to make the producer "face the music," but has not received a reply.
When asked how the scandal might affect the public's perceptions of his own films, Tarantino ended by saying, "I hope it doesn't."
Tarantino and Weinstein have long been known for their close relationship in Hollywood. Since Weinstein distributed Reservoir Dogs in 1992, they've continued to work together on Pulp Fiction, the Kill Bill franchise, Inglourious Basterds and The Hateful Eight. A few weeks ago, Weinstein even threw Tarantino an engagement party.
