The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Uma Thurman publicly accuses Harvey Weinstein of assaulting her
The actor starred in Weinstein productions Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Uma Thurman has publicly accused Harvey Weinstein of assaulting her, issuing specific allegations about the producer for the first time,
In an interview published by The New York Times, the actor spoke about an incident that took place after the filming of Pulp Fiction, but before Kill Bill.
The allegation came as British police were said to be investigating Weinstein over two further allegations of sexual assault.
A woman alleged the disgraced movie mogul assaulted her in Westminster in 2011 while a separate alleged incident took place outside the UK.
Reported to police in November but only now made public, it brings bring the total number of women who have reported Weinstein to British police to nine.
While Thurman had previously only strongly alluded to her anger towards the producer, she alleges in the article that Weinstein “attacked” her at the Savoy hotel in London.
“It was such a bat to the head,” she told the publication. “He pushed me down. He tried to shove himself on me. He tried to expose himself. He did all kinds of unpleasant things. But he didn’t actually put his back into it and force me.
“You’re like an animal wriggling away, like a lizard. I was doing anything I could to get the train back on the track. My track. Not his track.”
Weinstein's lawyer said he acknowledged making an "awkward pass" at her in a London hotel room but denied physical assault and suggested the disgraced producer could take legal action against her.
Following the incident, Thurman said she returned to Fulham, where herself and a friend – Ilona Herman – were staying. The actor says a bouquet of roses arrived at their house with a note from Weinstein, allegedly reading: “You have great instincts”.
Soon after, she said the producer’s assistants called with job opportunities.
Another meeting with Weinstein took place later on, when Thurman said she warned him: “If you do what you did to me to other people you will lose your career, your reputation and your family, I promise you.”
Herman, who also spoke to the publication, says she was waiting in the hotel lobby during the meeting, when Thurman emerged shaking because Weinstein had apparently threatened to end her career.
A representative speaking for Weinstein denied the allegation, saying Thurman’s career prospects were never threatened and calling her “a brilliant actress”.
Thurman also spoke of another incident that took place during a meeting in a Paris hotel room, saying the pair were arguing over a script when Weinstein changed into a bathrobe.
While she said she did not feel threatened initially – saying she thought of him as a “kooky, eccentric uncle” – she alleged the producer led her to a steam room where she said: “This is ridiculous, what are you doing?”
She said Weinstein then got flustered. Thurman says that, following those two incidents, she and Weinstein worked together on a merely professional basis, speculating that she could only tolerate him because she had “aged out of the window of his assault range”.
Since the report was published, Weinstein’s lawyers have responded with a statement from the producer, acknowledging he made an “awkward pass” but denying any physical assault.
“Mr Weinstein acknowledges making an awkward pass 25 years ago at Ms Thurman in England after misreading her signals, after a flirtatious exchange in Paris, for which he immediately apologised and deeply regrets,” the statement reads. “However, her claims about being physically assaulted are untrue. And this is the first time we have heard those details.
“There was no physical contact during Mr Weinstein’s awkward pass and Mr. Weinstein is saddened and puzzled as to ‘why’ Ms Thurman, someone he considers a colleague and a friend, waited 25 years to make these allegations public, noting that he and Ms Thurman have shared a very close and mutually beneficial working relationship where they have made several very successful film projects together.
“This is the first time we are hearing that she considered Mr Weinstein an enemy and the pictures of their history tell a completely different story.”
The lawyers added that more information from Weinstein will be released soon.
Before the exposé was published, Thurman had previously indicated she was “angry” with Weinstein, in one Instagram post saying: ”Happy Thanksgiving to everyone (Except you Harvey, and all your wicked conspirators – I’m glad it’s going slowly – you don’t deserve a bullet) – stay tuned.”
During the New York Times interview, Thurman spoke about why she took so long to make the allegations public.
“The complicated feeling I have about Harvey is how bad I feel about all the women that were attacked after I was,” she said.
“I am one of the reasons that a young girl would walk into his room alone, the way I did. Quentin [Tarantino, the director] used Harvey as the executive producer of Kill Bill, a movie that symbolises 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 is one of many women to have made similar accusations against Weinstein, with dozens of women claiming the disgraced mogul sexually harassed or assaulted them.
Weinstein continues to deny any wrongdoing, a spokesperson saying: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein. Mr Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances.
“Mr Weinstein obviously can’t speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.”
During the conversation with The New York Times, Thurman also spoke about a separate incident with an unnamed actor. When she was 16 years old, she went to a club and met the person, who was 20 years older than her. He coerced her into heading home for a late night drink.
“I was ultimately compliant,” she said. “I tried to say no, I cried, I did everything I could do. He told me the door was locked but I never ran over and tried the knob.”
A large number of actors in Hollywood have spoken out against sexual harassment, bringing increasing exposure to the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements.