- In an interview with The New York Times, actress Uma Thurman said Quentin Tarantino, who directed her in “Kill Bill,” made her do a stunt she wasn’t comfortable performing.
- The stunt resulted in a car crash, and Thurman suffered injuries from it.
- Thurman also said Tarantino spat on her and choked her in order to get a better performance.
- Women in Hollywood and other celebrities have come forward in her support, criticizing Tarantino for his techniques.
Over the weekend, Uma Thurman accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. She also said that Quentin Tarantino, who directed her in “Pulp Fiction” and “Kill Bill” (both produced by Weinstein), mistreated her on set.
Thurman’s story inspired celebrities to criticize Tarantino for his tactics, including actress Jessica Chastain who wrote on Twitter, “How many images of women in media do we celebrate that showcase abuse? When did this become normalized ‘entertainment’?”
In an interview with The New York Times, Thurman shared a video of a car stunt on the set of “Kill Bill” that she said Tarantino pressured her to do. Thurman said the stunt resulted in a concussion and injured knees for her, because the car crashed. Thurman provided a video of the crash to the Times.
Thurman also said that during shooting Tarantino spat in her face and strangled her with chains to get the performance he wanted out of her.
(Tarantino did not respond to requests for comment from the Times, and has not publicly commented since.)
After the interview was published, Hollywood stars shared their thoughts on Tarantino's tactics:
Jessica Chastain
I keep imagining Tarantino spitting in Uma's face and strangling her with a chain for KILL BILL. How many images of women in media do we celebrate that showcase abuse? When did this become normalized 'entertainment'?
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) February 4, 2018
Directors inserting themselves into a scene depicting abuse is crossing a boundary. How can an actor feel safe when your director is strangling you?
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) February 4, 2018
When violence against women is used as a plot device to make the characters stronger then we have a problem. It is not empowering to be beaten and raped, yet so many films make it their 'pheonix' moment for women. We don't need abuse in order to be powerful. We already are.
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) February 4, 2018
Reese Witherspoon
Deeply upsetting. My heart goes out to @umathurman and all the women who have bravely told their stories about this awful predator https://t.co/YrLdf0lWhv
— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) February 3, 2018
Judd Apatow
Tarantino also ignored Daryl Hannah’s complaints when she was harassed by Harvey Weinstein.They kicked her off the press tour.Nobody helped her. And now Tarantino is going to make a movie about Polanski. Why is someone financing this? This is why Weinstein wasn’t stopped. $$$$ https://t.co/WlSVFEoVN4
— Judd Apatow 🇺🇦 (@JuddApatow) February 3, 2018
Evan Rachel Wood
https://twitter.com/evanrachelwood/status/959933099286114304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Asia Argento
https://twitter.com/AsiaArgento/status/959842974501883904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/AsiaArgento/status/959858756153683969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw