READ MORE: Quentin Tarantino and The Weinstein Company Break Their Silence Over Police Boycott
Two days after breaking his silence to The Los Angeles Times on the growing police boycott against his films, Quentin Tarantino took to television last night to continue to defend and clarify the controversial comments he made an October 24 rally against police brutality. Ever since Tarantino referred to police officers as “murderers,” unions across the country have joined forces to boycott his films, with major police organizations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and more U.S. cities all contributing to the movement.
On an episode of “All In With Chris Matthews” on MSNBC last night, the outspoken director remained firm on his stance, noting that he wasn’t referring to all police officers when he made his comments, but rather just those involved in specific incidents within the past year. “We were at a rally that was dealing with unarmed people, mostly black and brown, who have been shot and killed — or beaten or strangled — by the police, and I was obviously referring to the people in those types of situations.”
Referring specifically to the deaths of Eric Garner and Tamir Rice, Tarantino said, “In those cases in particular that we’re talking about, I actually do believe that they were murdered. And they were deemed murder.”
“I was surprised,” he continued. “I was under the impression that I was an American, and that I had First Amendment rights, and there was no problem with me going to a police brutality protest and speaking my mind…Just because I was at an anti-police brutality protest doesn’t mean I’m anti-police.”
Although there have been rumors that The Weinstein Company has been intent on solving the issue before Tarantino’s latest, “The Hateful Eight,” hits select theaters this Christmas, the director confirmed that the company stands behind him. Watch the entire interview below.
READ MORE: NY Police Union Calls for Quentin Tarantino Boycott
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