Tarantino on Weinstein: 'I knew enough to do more than I did'

Quentin Tarantino and Harvey Weinstein. Photo / Getty

Quentin Tarantino "knew" about Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual harassment toward a number of his female employees.

The 65-year-old producer allegedly sexually harassed over 40 women during a period of 30 years, and his close friend Quentin Tarantino - who worked with him on a number of movies including cult hit 'Pulp Fiction' - has now admitted he was aware of "a couple" of the alleged offences, and regrets not doing more to prevent it.

Harvey Weinstein (L) and Quentin Tarantino attend the 8th annual Los Angeles Italia-Film, Fashion And Art Fest held at the Mann Chinese 6 on February 19, 2013. Photo / Getty

Speaking in an interview with the New York Times newspaper, Quentin said: "I knew enough to do more than I did. There was more to it than just the normal rumours, the normal gossip. It wasn't secondhand. I knew he did a couple of these things.

"I wish I had taken responsibility for what I heard. If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him."

The 54-year-old director told the publication he was made aware of the alleged behaviour when his own former girlfriend Mira Sorvino was subjected to unwanted touching by the producer, and was also aware that actress Rose McGowan had reached a settlement with Weinstein to keep their alleged encounter quiet.

Quentin added: "What I did was marginalise the incidents. Anything I say now will sound like a crappy excuse."

Despite the pair having been close in the past, the 'Reservoir Dogs' director doesn't have an answer as to why he thinks Weinstein - who was recently fired from his position as co-chairman of The Weinstein Company - could have carried out his alleged misbehaviour.

He said: "I don't have an answer for why he could do this and be stripped of his entire legacy."

Producer Harvey Weinstein (L) and Quentin Tarantino. Photo / Getty

Quentin's comments come after he previously released a statement claiming he was "stunned and heartbroken" by the allegations.

He said: "For the last week I've been stunned and heartbroken about the revelations that have come to light about my friend for 25 years Harvey Weinstein. I need a few more days to process my pain, emotions, anger and memory and then I will speak publicly about it."

On top of being fired from his own production company, Weinstein has stepped down from his positions at a number of charitable organisations, and his wife of 10 years, Georgia Chapman - with whom he has two kids, India, seven, and Dashiell, four - has announced she is leaving him.