NYPD Calls for Boycott of Quentin Tarantino Films Following Police Brutality Protest

One of the most common knocks from critics of Quentin Tarantino has been his apparent desire to be black. Set aside the numerous uses of the N-word in the man’s filmography, and he still takes inspiration from historically black art movements, such as hip-hop and funk music as well as classic blaxploitation film. And now, Tarantino has tapped into one of the most universal components of the black experience in America: getting hassled by the police.

On Saturday, Tarantino flew into New York from his home in Los Angeles to make an appearance at a rally protesting instances of police brutality in the city. (The Deadline report that noted Tarantino’s presence also noted that the rally took place mere days after an officer had been killed in the line of duty while pursuing a theft suspect who has since been charged with murder.) Tarantino was quoted as saying, “I’m a human being with a conscience. And if you believe there’s murder going on, then you need to rise up and stand up against it. I’m on the side of the murdered.”

Defending his use of the word “murder” to describe police brutality, Tarantino explained, “I’m a human being with a conscience … 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.”

The police forces of New York were none too pleased with Tarantino’s characterization (of them as murderers, that is, though perhaps they also found the mental interiority of Beatrix Kiddo thinly drawn in the Kill Bill films). Patrick Lynch, police spokesperson and President of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, had some stern words for the Academy Award-winning filmmaker:

It’s no surprise that someone who makes a living glorifying crime and violence is a cop-hater, too. 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.” The unfortunately-named Lynch then continued, “New Yorkers need to send a message to this purveyor of degeneracy that he has no business coming to our city to peddle his slanderous ‘Cop Fiction.’ It’s time for a boycott of Quentin Tarantino’s films.

While Tarantino’s most likely not worried about losing the cop market for his upcoming film The Hateful Eight, that Cop Fiction slam has gotta sting. To use the title of man’s own film (‘Cop Fiction’ is a clear pun on the film Reservoir Dogs, which is a work of fiction that revolves around a cop) against him! The indignity of it all!