The rumors about Quentin Tarantino’s foot fetish are walking from one generation to the next.
Maya Hawke, who had a small part in Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” recently appeared on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast and was asked if she got any advice about working with the filmmaker from her mom, Uma Thurman, who famously starred in three of Tarantino’s most popular films.
“‘Keep your shoes on,’” Hawke, 27, replied, referring to Tarantino’s alleged obsession with feet.
Maya Hawke on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast. Good Hang with Amy Poehler/YouTube
Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino attend the National Board of Review Annual Awards gala in January 2020. Getty Images for National Board of Review
“Keep your shoes on,” Poehler, 54, repeated.
“Keep them on, baby. Are you gonna try —,” Poehler added, as she and the “Stranger Things” star both burst out in laughter.
After the joking around subsided, Poehler told Hawke, “Perfect advice. Perfect.”
Maya Hawke during her appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast. Good Hang with Amy Poehler/YouTube
Uma Thurman in “Pulp Fiction.” Getty Images
Uma Thurman and Maya Hawke at Paris fashion week in January 2019. Getty Images
Thurman, who shares Hawke with ex-husband Ethan Hawke, worked with Tarantino on “Pulp Fiction” (1994), “Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003) and “Kill Bill: Volume 2” (2004).
Viewers of Tarantino’s classics often get up close and personal with actors’ toes, prompting accusations of the esteemed director’s so-called fetish.
For example, 2019’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” reportedly features 36 shots of feet, while the first “Kill Bill” features the infamous “wiggle your big toe” scene involving Thurman’s character.
Kurt Russell in Quentin Tarantino’s “Grindhouse” (2007). ©Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Coll / Everett Collection
Sydney Tamiia Poitier in Quentin Tarantino’s movie “Death Proof.” ©Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Coll / Everett Collection
Sydney Tamiia Poitier in “Death Proof.” ©Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Coll / Everett Collection
Some of the stars from Tarantino’s movies have even joked about the rumored foot infatuation, including “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star Brad Pitt.
During his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor at the 2002 SAG Awards, Pitt, 61, said, “I want to thank my co-stars, Leo [DiCaprio], Margot Robbie, Margot Robbie’s feet, Margaret Qualley’s feet, Dakota Fanning’s feet.”
“Seriously, Quentin has separated more women from their shoes than the TSA,” Pitt added, as the audience laughed.
Quentin Tarantino attends the “Nouvelle Vague” (New Wave) red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2025 in Cannes, France. FilmMagic
Thurman, 55, was asked about Tarantino’s supposed foot fetish back in 2004 on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”
“I think he staunchly denies it, but you should definitely address it with him,” she told the host while promoting the second “Kill Bill” at the time. “He claims that every foot shot was essential to the telling of the story.”
“I think you should definitely bring it up with him,” Thurman added. “You should spend the entire interview talking to him about his potential foot fetish.”
Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman at the “Kill Bill 1” premiere in 2003. WireImage
Tarantino, for his part, denied he has a thing for feet in a 2021 GQ interview.
“I don’t take it seriously,” the director said. “There’s a lot of feet in a lot of good directors’ movies. That’s just good direction. Like, before me, the person foot fetishism was defined by was Luis Buñuel, another film director. And Hitchcock was accused of it and Sofia Coppola has been accused of it.”
Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. WireImage
Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill Vol. 1.” REUTERS
During “Kill Bill,” Tarantino had Thurman do a stunt that led to a car crash and Thurman suffering permanent neck and knee damage. The incident fractured the pair’s relationship for years.
But in 2018, Thurman told Entertainment Weekly that she forgave Tarantino and would work with him again “if he wrote a great part.”
She added, “I understand him and if he wrote a great part and we were both in the right place about it, that would be something else.”
