Quentin Tarantino says he knew about some of Harvey Weinstein's inappropriate behavior: 'I knew enough to do more than I did'

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Quentin Tarantino says he knew about some of Harvey Weinstein's inappropriate behavior: 'I knew enough to do more than I did'

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  • Director Quentin Tarantino worked with film producer Harvey Weinstein for years, and credits him for helping his career
  • Amid the allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Weinstein, Tarantino has finally spoken in detail about it, and how much he knew
  • In an interview with The New York Times, Tarantino says he was aware of much of Weinstein's behavior, and regrets that he didn't do more

Director Quentin Tarantino, who worked with Harvey Weinstein for decades and credits his success to him, told The New York Times on Wednesday that he knew about much of his alleged sexual misconduct and could have done more.

"I knew enough to do more than I did," Tarantino said. "There was more to it than just the normal rumors, the normal gossip. It wasn't secondhand. I knew he did a couple of these things. I knew enough to do more than I did."

Tarantino told the Times that he wished he had "taken responsibility" for what he had heard. "If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him," he said.

Tarantino also told the Times that his former girlfriend, actress Mia Sorvino, told him about Weinstein's unwanted advances toward her when they were dating. Sorvino is one of the many women who has told her story about Weinstein's alleged sexual harassment and assault. Tarantino also said he was aware of Weinstein's settlement with actress Rose McGowan in 1997.

"What I did was marginalize the incidents," Tarantino said. "Anything I say now will sound like a crappy excuse."

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Weinstein worked with Tarantino from the very beginning of his illustrious film career, starting with 1992's "Reservoir Dogs." Weinstein also produced other Tarantino films including "Pulp Fiction," "Kill Bill," "Inglorious Basterds," and "The Hateful Eight."

Before speaking to the Times on Wednesday, Tarantino issued a brief statement expressing his disgust upon learning of the additional sexual assault allegations against Weinstein, which his friend, actress Amber Tamblyn, posted for him on social media.