In an article from the New York Times that was published last week, Uma Thurman claimed that she was pressured by production and director Quentin Tarantino to take part in a car stunt that ultimately ended in a crash and left her with a concussion while filming Kill Bill. Thurman alleges that the incident was covered up by the producers -- which included Harvey Weinstein -- and that the circumstances surrounding the event were "negligent to the point of criminality." Now, Keith Adams, the stunt coordinator for the film, has now come forward to state that he, and the entire stunt department, were not consulted about the stunt. According to Adams...
No stunts of any kind were scheduled for the day of Ms. Thurman's accident. All of the stunt department was put on hold and no one from the stunt department was called to set. At no point was I notified or consulted about Ms. Thurman driving a car on camera that day. Had I been involved, I would have insisted not only on putting a professional driver behind the wheel but also ensuring that the car itself was roadworthy and safe.
In a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter, stunt coordinator Keith Adam says that there was not supposed to be a stunt on the schedule for the day and that no one from the stunt department was present on set. Adam claims to have not been consulted or notified that Uma Thurman would be driving a car on camera, but if he had, he would have recommended a professional stunt driver and roadworthy vehicle be used.
The Pulp Fiction star was allegedly pressured by Quentin Tarantino to get behind the wheel of a rattrap convertible and drive down a curved, sandy, Mexican road at 40 mph. The vehicle ended up crashing, resulting in Thurman receiving a concussion and damage to her knees. According to veteran stunt coordinator Andy Armstrong, the actress could have been decapitated and said that it was irresponsibility on a "mega level." Ordinarily, these types of vehicles are referred to as "picture cars," i.e. cars that look good on camera but are not safe to drive in a stunt. Picture cars are generally towed on flatbed "process trailers" while being filmed, creating the illusion that an actor is driving. Thurman described the car as a "death box" in an interview with the New York Times.
Quentin Tarantino has since come forward about the incident, noting that it was "one of the biggest regrets of my life." According to Tarantino, "no one ever considered it a stunt. It was just driving." Uma Thurman posted footage of the crash (which she writes was provided to her by Tarantino) to her Instagram, writing that while she does not believe there was "malicious intent" she blames the following cover-up on "Lawrence Bender, E. Bennett Walsh, and the notorious Harvey Weinstein."
