Quentin Tarantino's newest film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, premiered at the Cannes film festival on Tuesday, May 21.
He and the film's stars also sat down for a press junket, where the director stirred controversy by snapping at a reporter who asked him about Margot Robbie's comparatively small role in the movie.
When asked why Robbie, a massive box-office star, had so few lines in the film compared to her male co-stars Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, Tarantino tersely responded:
"I just reject your hypothesis."
Quentin Tarantino snapped at a female reporter from The New York Times who asked why Margot Robbie wasn’t given mor… https://t.co/f7zfLoDiqZ— Variety (@Variety) 1558556929.0
Tarantino is asked why a big star like Margot Robbie has so few lines in the movie: “I just reject your hypotheses,… https://t.co/loL0s0T8tU— Kyle Buchanan (@Kyle Buchanan) 1558521233.0
Some Twitter users came to Tarantino's defense, saying "snapped" wasn't an accurate descriptor of his answer.
@Variety Snapped? https://t.co/7S6FT2hAUa— Marlon J (@Marlon J) 1558557347.0
"Snapped"? He declined to answer a question he didn't agree with. Not saying Tarantino is entirely unproblematic bu… https://t.co/mRJtuuDEyo— John Squires (@John Squires) 1558557504.0
Others, however, felt the question was a good one and deserved a real answer.
A valid question. https://t.co/qQcdJ9uSM9— Kristen Lopez (@Kristen Lopez) 1558549090.0
Tarantino fans online made a point of touting the director's former strong female protagonists as evidence of his lack of sexism.
@Journeys_Film @elduderino81 It is especially in Tarantino's case when he's given iconic female characters in all h… https://t.co/rQyMPCOZKK— Free Spirit (@Free Spirit) 1558558415.0
@latimesent @AmyKinLA What a ridiculous question. Tarantino has made Jackie Brown, Kill Bill 1 & 2. Female domina… https://t.co/i25EItgovl— FourTwoThreeOne (@FourTwoThreeOne) 1558558987.0
@latimesent @AmyKinLA If only he’d done films with iconic, powerful female characters https://t.co/MvFCH5WxVg— liammufc (@liammufc) 1558559634.0
Others pointed out how easy it would have been for Tarantino to simply answer the question instead of placing himself above the issue.
It really isn't hard for Tarantino to say "I understand your question and your concern and I'm glad you brought it… https://t.co/Jc5QZKHsFo— dilara elbir (@dilara elbir) 1558561589.0
All of the actors onstage with the director knew how to handle the hardball question.
Please observe the stonelike professionalism of Leo DiCaprio who realized where the question was going right away a… https://t.co/Oihddbsxps— Heidi N. Moore (@Heidi N. Moore) 1558558069.0
Margot Robbie's tact is magnificent. We are seeing three absolute professionals right here.— Heidi N. Moore (@Heidi N. Moore) 1558558205.0
@moorehn Sheer arrogance across the board, in body language and words, except for Margot Robbie. Tarantino skated… https://t.co/EEVbP4icVd— Michael Fox (@Michael Fox) 1558558761.0
@foxonfilm I think DiCaprio and Pitt had their hands tied. They're promoting a film, and it wasn't a question for t… https://t.co/hLXvds83jk— Heidi N. Moore (@Heidi N. Moore) 1558559230.0
Of course, many people felt they had to argue over whether or not Tarantino's answer qualified as a "snap."
@moorehn Also, shame on the Variety tweet writer because in no way can QT's response be characterized as "snapped."— Steven Cordero (@Steven Cordero) 1558558337.0
@SteveCordero He did absolutely snap at her, agree to disagree!— Heidi N. Moore (@Heidi N. Moore) 1558559024.0
@moorehn He never raised his voice & said in an even tone, "Well, I reject your hypothesis." I don't see how that c… https://t.co/6VCiDKH9Ul— Steven Cordero (@Steven Cordero) 1558559986.0
They eventually decided it did.
@SteveCordero His tone is clearly irritated and short, and he kept tapping his fingers on the table in irritation a… https://t.co/067PNLVRuv— Heidi N. Moore (@Heidi N. Moore) 1558560136.0
@moorehn Good point. I focused on his statement alone.— Steven Cordero (@Steven Cordero) 1558560348.0
Meanwhile, Tarantino's new film garnered positive reviews from critics at the festival.
Tarantino’s gorgeous Once Upon a Time in Hollywood lovingly recreates a showbiz period that is long past, of cowboy… https://t.co/6I1rYCtMFo— Anne Thompson (@Anne Thompson) 1558465114.0
So, Tarantino has made his best film since Pulp Fiction... https://t.co/Jjxcj7CnpI— Ed Potton (@Ed Potton) 1558483066.0
My review of Tarantino's ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, a movie I greatly enjoyed: https://t.co/yRaPg5QVKm— Bilge Ebiri (@Bilge Ebiri) 1558489788.0
But even if the movie is good, many people are publicly beginning to wonder why Tarantino still deserves Hollywood's support after his past actions.
Quentin Tarantino on his relationship to Roman Polanski, who's featured in #OnceUponaTimeinHollywood alongside Marg… https://t.co/1mBY3PS7uI— Variety (@Variety) 1558521700.0
I'm so glad you all liked the Tarantino movie. I bet Uma Thurman liked living without back problems before working… https://t.co/AILEKVtrWr— Becca Harrison (@Becca Harrison) 1558510983.0
In other news... I guess add this to the long list of reasons why Tarantino is just an absolute shitheel. Credit… https://t.co/aqq1OAuyzM— Pete Jones (@Pete Jones) 1558550793.0
Idiot!! 😤 #QuentinTarantino https://t.co/v5CMwhjUXB— Mónica Silva (@Mónica Silva) 1558551277.0
In the aftermath of the Weinstein scandal, Quentin Tarantino told @jodikantor he knew that Weinstein was a sexual p… https://t.co/CDNnegQDP2— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@Yashar Ali 🐘) 1558533534.0
Tarantino: Still a misogynist piece of shit https://t.co/IDU54mSl0j— Xeni Jardin (@Xeni Jardin) 1558541245.0
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood premieres on July 26, which will give many people plenty of time to decide whether or not they want to continue supporting the director's films with their money.