Spike Lee: "Django Unchained" is "disrespectful"

Director Spike Lee attends a photo call during the 69th Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Casino on Aug. 31, 2012, in Venice, Italy. / Getty

Spike Lee won't be among the movie-goers seeing "Django Unchained" when it arrives in theaters on Christmas Day.

The "Red Hook Summer" director has spoken out against Quentin Tarantino's ultra-violent spaghetti Western-style film about slavery, and says he will not see it.

"I cant speak on it 'cause I'm not gonna see it," he told Vibe magazine. "All I'm going to say is that it's disrespectful to my ancestors. That's just me...I'm not speaking on behalf of anybody else."

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Lee reiterated his opinion Saturday in a message posted on Twitter:

American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western.It Was A Holocaust.My Ancestors Are Slaves.Stolen From Africa.I Will Honor Them.

-- Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) December 22, 2012

As The Hollywood Reporter notes, this is not the first time Lee has been critical of Tarantino. In 1997, following the release of Tarantino's film "Jackie Brown," he reportedly said: "I have a definite problem with Quentin Tarantino's excessive use of the n-word. And let the record state that I never said that he cannot use that word -- I've used that word in many of my films -- but I think something is wrong with him."

"Django Unchained" stars Jamie Foxx as a former slave-turned-bounty hunter who sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner. The film also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz and Kerry Washington. It recently received five Golden Globe nominations, including one for best dramatic picture.

[monvonma1]

I just saw the movie 2 days ago. I LOVED it!
I am a Tarentino fan and I happen to be of African decent.
If anyone watches QT movies they are telling STORIES. Almost all of them are 100% ficticious. Inglorious Bastards was another brilliant example. Excellent movie but historically inaccurate. So what!

Also Mr Lee... A lot of people have been screaming for more black women in major roles where they are put on the highest pedestal. I can't think of a better example than this: where a man literally goes through hell to save this one gem of a woman who is very much of African decent.

[Chitowngeek]

If spike had seen the movie he would know it takes slavery serious and delivers cinematic justice to the would be oppressors!

[Mandingo_Mike]

Spike is just mad cause his movies BOMB all the time, when was the last time you heard someone say "i can't wait for the new Spike Lee movie?" NOBODY.

[saucyg]

This is ridiculous! It is now the year 2013. This is a movie. It isn't reality Spike, or any other easily offended person. Get over it. I really don't understand how people get so offended over movies. HERE'S A NEWSFLASH PEOPLE......THEY AREN'T REAL, IT'S ACTING!

People love to go off on Mr. Quentin. I don't think people would freak out nearly as much if this film was directed by anyone else but Tarantino.

One more thing, Spike. People, back then in slave times, used the N word. They actually used it alot. Go figure.

[ciarakay]

Lets just say I told you your parents should have a aborted you but I was acting? Would THAT be okay?

[tommyboy194]

another overrated movie from hollyjew.....terrible movie, quinten is a weird dude...boring,blood and guts

[Mandingo_Mike]

you my friend are a RETARD, please go back and learn how to spell you monkey.

[ciarakay]

Excuse me, but what the hell does "hollyjew" mean?

[mje98]

This is sort of like the pot calling the kettle...
Spike Lee and Tarantino arguing over how many times one can use the N-word in a movie. In reality, Spike Lee (after admitting that he also plays to sensationalism instead of quality by using that word in his movies) is complaining because he...like so many other african-americans...feels that in today's over-emphasis on political/racial correctness, only they should be allowed to use the N-Word (whenever they feel like it). Thus, they are really arguing over whether white Directors/Producers are allowed to use the N-word at all; should be reserved only for Spike Lee? In all honesty, these two guys (Spike Lee and Tarantino) are some of the biggest losers in Hollywood and should never have been allowed to Direct/Produce any movies at all. I guess they can both join the bottom ranks of quality movie Directing with guys like John Revolta and that other hack...the one that produced the Chrysler movie. They are no-talent hacks that should be drummed-out of the industry, so we can improve the whole Movie sector.

[mikeproudofit]

I have lost all respect for Spike Lee. Sir, you are full of it!
What's wrong with Django?
Let's see:

1.The movie shows a black man (a slave stand up for himself).
2.Fight for the woman he loves.

What's wrong with that?
Sorry sir, slavery existed and slaves were treated less than dogs. Don't play roles your full of!!!

[AmericanFrog]

Amen brother!

[gmcft]

Poor Spike Lee....waa waa.

My ancestors....waa waa.

Blacks....waa waa.

Grow up, get over it, man up, get a life and stop crying over spilled milk.

I am Swedish and my ancestors were also murdered and enslaved by the French and American Indians occupying the Michigan Upper Peninsula in the 1700s.

Somebody....give me a waa waa.

The USA had a very small role in the world slavery trade.

Some whites enslaved some blacks because some blacks sold them to some whites. However, some blacks enslaved the "entire" Jewish race for over 400 years.

When are the blacks going to apologize for that holocaust?
When are the blacks going to pay reparations to the Jews?

Have you ever noticed that when you give a spoiled brat something they always want more.

I am sick of this.

[WoWReally101]

Umm correct me but Egypt was and is a mixed culture, so it wasn't just Blacks that enslaved the Jews. Hell from all history books and movies there were no Blacks in Egypt, lol.
I'm black and I think Spike is full of BS. I'm black and I don't need no damn reparations. I give respect for my ancestors and for the ones that died in war that freed us. Spike can have a major stick up his bum from time to time.
I could be ignorant like you and say well you should know about being spoiled cause your white. For you to say what you said out your mouth says your spoiled cause you have not suffered. There are alot of races and religions that suffer to this day cause of fools like you telling them to get over it. It amazes me how ppl from other countries can just sum up an entire race from things they read or watched on TV. Have you talked to every single black person in America? I don't believe in limiting my mind like that or my boyfriend would not be white.
For ppl to keep bring up the Holocaust to compare and say how lil our Holocaust is to theirs need to be slapped. Any death be it white, black on a massive level should not be forgotten or belittled.
You would not dare go up to a Jewish person and tell them to get over the Holocaust cause 90% of you did not live threw it, it was your ancestors, so get over it. Most are still trying to get heirlooms that was stolen from their ancestors, you wouldn't tell them to forget it, it's things.
What you should be sick of is racism in all it's forms. Blacks(not all) are just as racist as whites(not all) and we can't fix it if we refuse to admit it.

[gmcft]

@ WOWREALLY101,

I agree with much of what you say.

When Lee or other public figures speak up with their opinion repeating the same old race card and "poor me", I will also add my opinion.

However, my ancestors were brutalized in a similar fashion as many slaves in history. I also can make the statement that my ancestors suffered for over 125 years and therefore ultimately affected me as well. Sure, I can whine also.

But, I have disregarded the past and have a good life. I have worked since age 14 while attending school and later college, which took me much longer than the average person because of helping my family. I lived most of my life in Detroit-color and ethnicity mean nothing to me.

You call me ignorant and a fool that has not suffered. You have no idea how wrong you are. I can not make personal attacks against you because I don't have any idea of you or your life. And I won't make a judgment on you based on some comment you post.

Why isn't Spike Lee and his other two rich friends, Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton or Obama over in Africa demanding that the black Africans "Cease and Desist" from enslaving black Africans.

Black on black slavery is occuring right now and the slaves are worth about $25.

This is happening in three differant countries in the African continent and they are working for nothing under intolerable conditions on cocoa plantations. Murder, rape and beatings are common. This has been going on for many years.

When ever we eat or drink anything with a chocolate ingredient we are supporting slavery because these countries supply almost 75% of the world's cocoa.

I won't hold my breath for these Stooges or any politican (criminal) to "man up" and help them.

The only color slavery has ever acknowleged throughout history is "green".

Below are a few articles about racism from Thomas Sowell:
http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/black-racism-unchained/
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/229632/misusing-history/thomas-sowell
http://www.deadcatsandclippings.com/?page_id=321
http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-real-history-of-slavery-by-thomas.html
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell013002.asp
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell080801.asp
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell071700.asp

Sowell has had articles in many publications. Below are only two home pages of his.:
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell1.asp
http://www.nationalreview.com/author/200445

[phpaph3]

Spike Lee, stop being jealous. I went to the movie today/was it great? yes. i do not buy into the n word it was a part of vocabulary while growing up in the south. your skin is thin. i will agree with you about clint eastwood and your awearding movie santana anna in respect black men serving in the us military but i can decide what is good for me/ not on your merits. well done for all the actors/ i would see it again. by the way i ama 70 year old black woman/know who i am.

[JES12121212]

Spike...Ur ancestors weren't stolen. They were sold by your other ancestors. U are just jealous cause ur movies suck. Only ones who goes to them are ur future ancestors.