Uma Thurman Shares Kill Bill Crash Video: “The Cover Up After the Fact Is Unforgivable”
Days after The New York Times published an interview with Uma Thurman in which she alleged that Harv..
Days after The New York Times published an interview with Uma Thurman in which she alleged that Harvey Weinstein had assaulted her, the actress has shared more of her story on Instagram—specifically, video footage of a devastating car crash on the set of Kill Bill that she had previously shared with the Times, along with more details of what happened after the accident. (Through a representative, Weinstein responded to Thurman’s allegations of assault in the Times—one in Paris and one in England—by saying, “Mr. Weinstein acknowledges making a pass at Ms. Thurman in England after misreading her signals in Paris,” the statement said. “He immediately apologized.”) While the actress praised director Quentin Tarantino—whom she said urged her to drive the car herself despite her misgivings—for giving her the footage despite the damage it could cause him, she did not have any such sentiments for the people she charges with the subsequent “cover up,” including Weinstein.
The New York Times posted video of the crash along with its interview; on Monday, Thurman posted a portion of the clip to her Instagram page in order to “memorialize it’s full exposure in the nyt by Maureen Dowd.” The actress called the circumstances surrounding the accident “negligent to the point of criminality.” According to the Times, Thurman had asked a stunt person to drive the convertible for an iconic Kill Bill scene, after she heard from a teamster that the vehicle might not be performing properly. Tarantino pushed her to drive it herself anyway, and as seen in the footage, Thurman hit a palm tree in the process. Her head slumps backward in the clip; eventually, she is lifted out of the vehicle.
Thurman writes on Instagram, however, that she does not believe there was “malicious intent” on Tarantino’s part before the crash. A legal representative for Tarantino did not immediately respond to V.F.’s request for comment.
“Quentin Tarantino, was deeply regretful and remains remorseful about this sorry event, and gave me the footage years later so i could expose it and let it see the light of day, regardless of it most likely being an event for which justice will never be possible,” Thurman wrote. “He also did so with full knowledge it could cause him personal harm, and i am proud of him for doing the right thing and for his courage.”
As Thurman told the Times, at the time of the accident, “The steering wheel was at my belly and my legs were jammed under me. I felt this searing pain and thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m never going to walk again.’” After the crash, Thurman and Tarantino had a falling out—but 15 years later, the director gave her the footage. Still, Thurman does not appear to be ready to make amends with producers on the film; as she wrote on Instagram, “THE COVER UP after the fact is UNFORGIVABLE.”
It’s perhaps worth noting that this scene in Kill Bill has appeared on Thurman’s Instagram at least once before—on Thanksgiving, after Thurman had already responded to a question about the #MeToo movement and the Weinstein allegations by saying,“I’ve been waiting to feel less angry, and when I’m ready, I’ll say what I have to say.” Back then, Thurman wrote on Instagram, “I am grateful today, to be alive, for all those I love, and for all those who have the courage to stand up for others. I said I was angry recently, and I have a few reasons, #metoo, in case you couldn’t tell by the look on my face. 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.”
It was difficult for Thurman to work after the accident, the actress told the Times: “I went from being a creative contributor and performer to being like a broken tool. . . . What really got me about the crash was that it was a cheap shot. I had been through so many rings of fire by that point. 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?”
Agents for producers Lawrence Bender and E. Bennett Walsh did not immediately respond to V.F.’s request for comment.
Get Vanity Fair’s HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com. She was formerly an editorial assistant at Slate and lives in Brooklyn.
