Unraveling the Quentin Tarantino Bruce Lee Controversy: A Clear Explanation Emerges Half a Decade Later

Quentin Tarantino’s portrayal of Bruce Lee in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood received criticism for mocking the legendary martial artist. The 2019 film was a box office hit, but not everyone appreciated its darkly comedic take on Hollywood. Particularly controversial was a scene where Brad Pitt's character, stuntman Cliff Booth, defeats an arrogant Bruce Lee in a fight on set. Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee's daughter, expressed her disappointment, feeling that the scene portrayed her father in a negative light and disrespected his memory.

Kareem Abdul-Jabar, a close friend and former co-star of Bruce Lee, labeled the scene as "somewhat racist." This critique is significant given Abdul-Jabar's personal connection to Lee. Although the film takes creative liberties with historical events, Lee's brief appearance marks one of the earliest instances where reality is altered. The scene of Booth triumphing over Lee aims to showcase Booth's toughness, yet it is widely viewed as an unrealistic portrayal. Additionally, the setup for the fight involves Lee engaging in uncharacteristic arrogant behavior, which upset many viewers who admired Lee's humble nature.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood's Bruce Lee Controversy Explained

Tarantino’s portrayal of Bruce Lee was divisive upon the movie’s release

Custom image of Mike Moh as Bruce Lee juxtaposed with Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood - Tarantino’s portrayal of Bruce Lee was divisive upon the movie’s release - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood's Bruce Lee Controversy Explained

The new book Quentin Tarantino: A Graphic Biography reveals that Bruce Lee is one of the director’s heroes. Tarantino acknowledges that no one could easily defeat the star in a real fight. However, three of Tarantino's movies present a revisionist version of history: Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. The ending of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood confirms that the story exists outside of reality. Lee's fight with Booth also establishes this, showing that the story does not follow the rules of the actual world.

This contradicts one of Tarantino’s earlier comments about Lee’s portrayal in the movie. During a Russian press conference in 2019, Tarantino defended the scene, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding Bruce Lee in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Tarantino stated that the actor was “kind of arrogant,” referencing Linda Lee's autobiography where she claimed that Lee could have defeated Muhammad Ali in a fight. This defense contradicts Tarantino’s claim that the movie’s version of Lee is a fictional character from an alternate reality, as he justifies Lee's arrogance with references to his true personality.

Bruce Lee's Defeat to Cliff Booth in OUATIH Suggests Alternate Reality and Sets Up Sharon Tate's Survival

Tarantino's film hints at its unexpected conclusion through Lee's loss and behavior

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton - Tarantino’s movie foreshadowed its wild ending with Lee’s defeat and demeanor - Bruce Lee Losing To Cliff Booth Confirms That OUATIH Is Set In An Alternate Reality (Setting Up Sharon Tate's Survival)

During the scene where Bruce Lee trains Sharon Tate for her movie, Tarantino portrays Lee in a more sympathetic light in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. The character's demeanor isn't entirely obnoxious in the film. However, Tarantino's justification for Booth defeating Lee in a fight is more about setting the tone for the story's deviation from reality. Some theories suggest that the ending of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a fantasy, but this overlooks the deeper message of the film.

Quentin Tarantino's Movies Set In The Actual World Reiterate That Bruce Lee In OUATIH Isn't The Real Bruce Lee

The entire movie is a fantasy that imagines a world where a pair of Western antiheroes arrive at just the right moment to avert a historical tragedy. In the world of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, the Manson family are gormless goofballs with no grand plan, rather than reality's CIA-linked white supremacists. In this context, it is no surprise that Lee wasn’t the dignified movie star and martial artist his family, colleagues, and fans remember, but a blowhard who boasted about his prowess only to be knocked out by a relative unknown since Tarantino’s movie is set in an alternate reality.

Tarantino’s other Lee homages prove that the filmmaker respects the martial arts legend

Uma Thurman as The Bride standing ready for battle in Kill Bill Vol. 1 - Tarantino’s other Lee homages prove that the filmmaker respects the martial arts legend - Quentin Tarantino's Movies Set In The Actual World Reiterate That Bruce Lee In OUATIH Isn't The Real Bruce Lee

Tarantino’s admiration for Bruce Lee is evident throughout his work. The strong and unbeatable characters inspired by Lee, such as The Bride in Kill Bill, showcase this influence. In the world of Kill Bill, where reality is more prevalent, The Bride embodies Tarantino's interpretation of the legendary martial artist more accurately than in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

Shannon Lee expressed disappointment with the portrayal of her father in Quentin Tarantino's film. While she acknowledges the narrative purpose of making Brad Pitt's character appear formidable by defeating Bruce Lee, she found the depiction of her father as an arrogant target for punches disheartening. Despite the fictional nature of Lee's character in the movie, using his legacy as a mere plot device remains a valid concern.

Editor's P/S:

Tarantino's portrayal of Bruce Lee in "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" sparked controversy, with many criticizing it as