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Harvey Weinstein: Anthony Bourdain accuses Quentin Tarantino of 'complicity' in Hollywood scandal

Chef and producer slams Tarantino after Pulp Fiction director admitted he was aware of allegations surrounding the disgraced producer

Roisin O'Connor
Monday 30 October 2017 08:34 GMT
Harvey Weinstein: The celebrities who have accused him of sexual misconduct so far

Anthony Bourdain has lashed out at director Quentin Tarantino over his knowledge of the allegations of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein.

Bourdain, a celebrity chef and star/producer of CNN show Parts Unknown, was taking part in a Q&A at the Produced by NY conference when he made his comments.

He is currently dating actress and director Asia Argento, who is one of more than 60 women who have accused Weinstein of sexual assault, harassment or rape. Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

Variety reports that Bourdain's mention of Tarantino came as he discussed a decision to turn down a lucrative deal that would involve merchandising and other profitable ventures - because he and his partners did not feel comfortable with the person offering the deal.

"It was a lot of money," he explained, but said that the deal "would have been a slow-acting poison that would have nibbled away at our souls until we ended up like Quentin Tarantino, looking back at a life of complicity, shame and compromise."

While he apparently declined to elaborate, when asked if his comment was in reference to Tarantino's relationship with Weinstein he replied: "One might think."

Tarantino admitted in October that he was aware of some of the allegations against Weinstein: "Enough to do more than I did."

The Pulp Fiction director, who worked with Weinstein on some of his best-known films, said he regretted not taking action with the knowledge he had.

"There was more to it than just the normal rumours, the normal gossip," he told the New York Times. "It wasn't second hand. I knew he did a couple of these things.

"I wish I had taken responsibility for what I heard. If I had done the work I should have done then, I would not have had to work with him."

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