Uma Thurman reveals Harvey Weinstein tried to ‘shove himself onto her’ at London’s Savoy Hotel
UMA Thurman has opened up about the moment disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein tried to "shove himself" onto her.
It's the first time the 47-year-old actress has revealed details about her claimed encounters Weinstein, having previously only hinted that she was among the more than 80 women allegedly targeted by him.
Her candid interview comes as Met Police confirmed they were investigating two more sexual assault claims against Weinstein.
, the Kill Bill actress said she had at first got to know Weinstein after the release of Pulp Fiction in 1994, saying that the married man spent "hours" complimenting her.
But she claimed the director then targeted her, telling her to follow him down a corridor in a Paris hotel - leading her to a steam room.
She said: "And I was standing there in my full black leather outfit — boots, pants, jacket. And it was so hot and I said, 'This is ridiculous, what are you doing?’
"And he was getting very flustered and mad and he jumped up and ran out."
She said in another confrontation, Weinstein tried to expose himself at her while at his suite at the Savoy Hotel in London.
Describing what happened, the successful actress and mother said: "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."
She described herself "like an animal wriggling away" trying to get away from him.
HARVEY WEINSTEIN'S STATEMENTS
The movie mogul released two statements relating to Uma Thurman's accusations.
The first statement:
"We have pulled a number of images that demonstrate the strong relationship Mr. Weinstein and Ms. Thurman had had over the years and we wish the New York Times would have published them.
"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 apologized and deeply regrets. 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.
"There will be more are detailed response later from Mr. Weinstein’s attorney, Ben Brafman."
The second statement
"Ben Brafman, Mr Weinstein's attorney said that Harvey is stunned and saddened by what he claims to be false accusations by Uma Thurman, someone he has worked closely with for more than two decades.
"Mr Weinstein acknowledges making an awkward pass at Ms Thurman 25 years ago which he regrets and immediately apologized for.
"Why Ms Thurman would wait 25 years to publicly discuss this incident and why according to Weinstein, she would embellish what really happened to include false accusations of attempted physical assault is a mystery to Weinstein and his attorneys.
"Ms Thurman's statements to the Times are being carefully examined and investigated before deciding whether any legal action against her would be appropriate."
The actress has only now opened up about the confrontations, having previously said she was "waiting to feel less angry";.
But she revealed that she felt bad that women had been allegedly attacked by Weinstein after her, saying: "I am one of the reasons that a young girl would walk into his room alone, the way I did. Quentin 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."
A spokesman for Weinstein denied that the movie mogul had ever threatened her career, saying they had a "flirtatious and fun working relationship".
The statement added: "Mr. Weinstein acknowledges making a pass at Ms. Thurman in England after misreading her signals in Paris.
"He immediately apologised."
Since Thurman's allegations were published, Weinstein's attorney said he was considering legal action.
Ben Brafman said in a statement his client is "stunned and saddened by what he claims to be false accusations".
He added: "Why Ms Thurman would wait 25 years to publicly discuss this incident and why according to Weinstein, she would embellish what really happened to include false accusations of attempted physical assault is a mystery to Weinstein and his attorneys.
"Ms Thurman's statements to the Times are being carefully examined and investigated before deciding whether any legal action against her would be appropriate."
The 65-year-old, who has been in Arizona since the scandal around his behaviour broke, has consistently denied the accusations against him.
In the candid New York Times interview, the actress also revealed her long-running feud with director Quentin Tarantino, saying he made her drive a stunt car against her will.
She said she had tried to ask the director to allow a stunt person to drive the car but was made to instead.
The car crashed, leaving the actress seriously injured and left in "searing pain" - fearing that she would never walk again.
She said that the crash caused tension between herself and Tarantino.
She has since obtained footage of the crash, handing it over to authorities.
The number of women who have reported Hollywood mogul Weinstein to British authorities has grown to nine after it was today revealed two more sexual assault claims were made to Met Police in November last year.
A spokesperson said: "On November 13 an allegation was received that the man sexually assaulted a woman (Victim 9) in Westminster in 2011 and outside the jurisdiction of the UK in 2010.
"The second allegation will be passed to the relevant police force in due course."
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