In the piece, Thurman expresses her complex feelings about what happened and wrestles with feeling guilty over other women who were assaulted after her.
Advertisement
“I am one of the reasons that a young girl would walk into his room alone, the way I did,” she said. “Quentin used Harvey as the executive producer of ‘Kill Bill,’ a movie that symbolizes female empowerment. And all these lambs walked into slaughter because they were convinced nobody rises to such a position who would do something illegal to you, but they do.”
Thurman described an incident after the release of “Pulp Fiction,” when she said Weinstein donned a bathrobe during a meeting in a Paris hotel room and got her to follow him into a steam room, at which point she left. At the time, she wrote it off as him being “kooky.”
But on another occasion shortly thereafter, she said, Weinstein physically assaulted her, pushing her down, attempting to expose himself and doing “all kinds of unpleasant things.”
Advertisement
When Thurman later tried to confront Weinstein, he allegedly threatened to ruin her career as an actress, her friend, Ilona Herman, told the Times.
In a statement sent to HuffPost, a Weinstein spokeswoman characterized what happened in the Paris hotel room as “an awkward pass” made by Weinstein after “misreading [Thurman’s] signals.” Weinstein apologized for the incident and “deeply regrets” it, according to the spokeswoman.
The statement also maintains that Weinstein never assaulted Thurman.
“Her claims about being physically assaulted are untrue,” the statement reads “And this is the first time we have heard those details.”
The statement included several photos of Thurman and Weinstein at events, which the spokeswoman purports demonstrate the pair had a “strong relationship.”
Through the spokeswoman, Weinstein also denied that he had ever threatened Thurman’s career.
“Throughout the years, Ms. Thurman was a close friend and one of Mr. Weinstein’s favorite actresses to work with,” the spokeswoman said.
Advertisement
In the Times article, Thurman also discussed being coerced into sex at age 16 by an unnamed actor, as well as an abuse of power by director Quentin Tarantino.
Thurman told Dowd that on the set of “Kill Bill,” Tarantino pressured her into doing her own stunt driving in a situation where she felt unsafe. The incident ended in a crash, which left her with a “permanently damaged neck” and “screwed-up knees.”
Despite all that had happened previously with Weinstein, it was the crash that truly left her feeling powerless in the industry.
“I had been through so many rings of fire by that point,” she said. “I had really always felt a connection to the greater good in my work with Quentin and most of what I allowed to happen to me and what I participated in was kind of like a horrible mud wrestle with a very angry brother. But at least I had some say, you know?”
Tarantino’s representatives did not immediately reply to a request for comment from HuffPost.
Thurman first spoke about Weinstein, and the Me Too movement in general, back in November.
She added, “I’ve been waiting to feel less angry. And when I’m ready, I’ll say what I have to say.”
The clip, in which Thurman’s slow, ultra-controlled demeanor made her sound like she was fighting to rein in her rage, went viral.
Weeks later, she posted a foreboding message on Instagram, writing, “I feel it’s important to take your time, be fair, be exact, so... Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! (Except you Harvey, and all your wicked conspirators ― I’m glad it’s going slowly ― you don’t deserve a bullet) ― stay tuned.”
This post has been updated with comment from a Weinstein spokeswoman.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.