Quentin Tarantino has been at the center of a number of controversies over the years, but most of them have involved the intensely graphic violence in his uniquely stylized films.
In real life, however, Tarantino has gone on record as saying that he “abhors” violence, and he put his money where his mouth is over the weekend by taking part in a RiseUp rally to protest recent incidents of police brutality.
Now, ironically, Tarantino’s call for peace has ignited the biggest controversy of his career.
“I’m a human being with a conscience,” Tarantino told a reporter at the rally. “When I see murders, I do not stand by…I have to call a murder a murder, and I have to call the murderers the murderers.”
Not surprisingly, some police officers have taken issue with Tarantino’s statement.
“It’s no surprise that someone who makes a living glorifying crime and violence is a cop-hater, too,” Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said in a statement.
“The police officers that Quentin Tarantino calls ‘murderers’ aren’t living in one of his depraved big screen fantasies – they’re risking and sometimes sacrificing their lives to protect communities from real crime and mayhem.”
Lynch went on to say that New York residents should “send a message” by boycotting Tarantino’s films, particularly his upcoming Western The Hateful Eight, which is set for release in December.
Tarantino has yet to respond to the criticism, but we’re guessing he’s preparing a lengthy, wildly articulate, hyper-referential statement at this very moment.