Shannon Lee: Shut Up About My Father

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Bruce Lee controversy

"Once upon a time in Hollywood" is a fresh new film by Quentin Tarantino. You can see the trailer here upwards. Since it came out a lot of discontent came from Bruce Lee fans. So what is this Bruce Lee controversy all about?
The main gripes are from Shannon Lee and Kareem Abdul- Jabbar, respectively his daughter and his friend. Discover what they have to say about it down below.

Quentin Tarantino

What happened

After Shannon and Kareem attacked him, Tarantino thought it would be appropriate to declare publicly his position regarding the controversy that was brought up around the Bruce Lee scene.
During the interview with Deadline, he clearly explains how his depiction of Bruce Lee is realistic and accurate.

I heard him say things like that - to that effect. If people are saying, "Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali", well yeah, he did. Not only did he say that, but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her first biography I ever read. She absolutely said it.

Q. Tarantino

Quentin says that he depicted Bruce as an arrogant guy because he truly was like that. Besides if that is true or not, many have also talked about the fight that occurred in the movie. The fight was between Bruce Lee and Cliff Booth, a character interpreted by Brad Pitt.

Bruce Lee Fans are not Happy

Many refer to it as nonsense since Bruce was an athlete on a whole new level. In the film, the result of the fight remains a mystery, since their fight gets interrupted before it came to an ending.
Hence, Tarantino pointed out as follows:

Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? Brad would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could" Tarantino said. “If you ask me the question, 'Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula' It's the same question. It's a fictional character. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, he's a fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee up.

Q. Tarantino

However, Cliff is an ex-soldier in the movie and this way he is an expert fighter too.

What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. He is a combat person.

Q. Tarantino

However, Quentin has his own idea of how the fight would end if it really happened. As he says, if the match would take place in Madison Street garden Lee would win. But if the two of them were brawling in the jungle of the Philippines:

Cliff would kill him.

Q. Tarantino

Shannon Lee could not disagree more with Tarantino

Shannon Lee with the wax figure of Bruce Lee

After seeing the film by herself, Shannon could not but point out what she calls a "poor and unrealistic interpretation" of her father.
In an interview released for Variety she said:

One of the things that's troubling in his response is that, on the one hand, he wants to put this forward as fact and, on the other hand, he wants to stay in fiction‚ 

Shannon Lee

Shannon pointed out how his father's self-confidence could be easily mistaken for arrogance. However she does not want to remember him as a perfect man, but more like the man he truly was. She was particularly upset about Tarantino's response to the criticism and to it she has to say the following:

[Tarantino] can portray Bruce Lee however he wanted to, and he did. But it's a little disingenuous for him to say, "Well, this is how he was, but this is a fictional movie, so don't worry too much about it."

Shannon Lee

Kareem Abdul- Jabar's response to Tarantino

It seems like Tarantino's Bruce lee wasn't appreciated by the Basketball champion Kareem Abdul- Jabar who starred with Bruce lee in his latest film: Chen's last fight. He seems to agree with Shannon since this is what he thinks about this matter:

Of course, Tarantino has the artistic right to portray Bruce any way he wants. But to do so in such a sloppy and somewhat racist way is a failure both as an artist and as a human being.
That's why it disturbs me that Tarantino chose to portray Bruce in such a one-dimensional way. The John Wayne machismo attitude of Cliff (Brad Pitt), an aging stuntman who defeats the arrogant, uppity Chinese guy harks back to the very stereotypes Bruce was trying to dismantle. Of course the blond, white beefcake American can beat your fancy Asian chopsocky dude because that foreign crap doesn't fly here.

Kareem Abdul- Jabbar
Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bruce Lee

In Conclusion

What do you think about this dispute?
Would you defend Bruce Lee's current reputation or do you think that Tarantino is free to portray Bruce Lee as he prefers?
let us know down below in the comment section. we can't wait to know what you think about it!
See you soon

Have a nice Wing Chun

Comments

Laze Brook
2019-09-23 10:57:14
Obviously Quinton Tarantino's own ego has taken the better of him. Honestly, what a cheap prick. Thanks for nothing ass hole.
D.Borges
2022-01-03 16:40:33
I believe he did it on purpose, he's trying to sale his movie causing controversy,he knows that using Mr.Lee name or character in his movie & not only try to question Bruce Lee ability it will cause some reaction to world wide Bruce Lee fan that will maybe make them watch the movie just to see what the controversy it all about it,it all business some people don't care they just want to sale their products.
Ugga Lee
2022-01-06 03:35:10
Tarantino said he's not worried about what anyone else thinks only if Bruce's daughter or Wife were offended,well guess what?, they were numb nuts,then all of a sudden its like 'oh!,my movie is fictional,so I can interpretate Bruce Lee as I wish',put more thought into your movies nut sack,then you wouldn't get so much flack when you add a real person to your bullshit movies,plus you're a creepy looking ball bag,like a kiddy fu*$#@ molester.😂😂😂😂
Steven Goss
2022-03-25 01:09:29
I can see why Bruce Lee`s fans would be upset to see someone get the better of him on film. I must say that Brad played that part perfectly , tired to listen to Bruce`s bull , Takes the hairpiece off & stands up to the challenge...............the director wanted this conflict to happen........really something great to see on film.........I loved this movie.........I lived in LA during tha time & I loved to see this concept
IK Stagg
2022-04-01 07:32:36
Tarantino should have talked to people who knew Bruce Lee personally before he made the film. People like Dan Inosanto, Jackie Chan and even Chuck Norris just to name a few. Having trained with him they know how good Bruce Lee really was. Kareem was one of Bruce's students, which is how he came to star alongside Bruce in "Game Of Death". Kareem once said their scenes had to be slowed down so viewers could see what was happening, otherwise the action looked too jerky. The late Kempo Karate master Ed Parker once said of Bruce, "Pound for pound he was the best martial artist he had ever met." Tarantino should have invented a fictional kung fu expert who was aspiring to be like Bruce, that way he might not have offended anyone.
Gia Trin
2022-08-07 06:22:26
@Laze Brook ego plays a big part once they become a legend of their own bullshit.
Gia Trin
2022-08-07 06:25:10
@Ugga Lee Tarantino is well known for fictional comics, I guess this time his joke has gone old.
Gia Trin
2022-08-07 06:27:02
@Steven Goss If Bruce is alive, Tarantino would’ve lost his everything, including his nuts.
Gia Trin
2022-08-07 06:40:10
@IK Stagg well thought and well said. I can’t agree with you more. Bruce may be a little arrogant to some, but he is very direct when it comes down to his passion. Anyone that would even come close to think that The great Bruce Lee would repeat the same move has to be on some kind of heavy crack. Soldiers trained in combat, Bruce is the master of in armed combat, these days soldiers are still learning Wing Chun techniques and are taught by descendants of Yip man. Bruce trained hours each day, his genius comes from the value of his passion and that’s Kung Fu. Anyone wish criticise more? I’m willing to challenge them anytime.
john gonzales
2022-08-08 20:46:12
Bruce lee was the fast learner and he study with the best of all types of martial arts masters I believe that he would of won and hurt the other aponet as he was a wise and sharp always done himself to the extreme of his life and his work as a young kids I loved all his movies and tried to be like him he will always be a man to be know for all his hard work and techniques in life
kevin green
2022-08-30 02:20:27
brad portrayed gene labell who did have to slap bruce around a bit and gene wouldve absolutely mauled little bruce in a real fight
Timothy knight
2022-11-27 15:10:29
well Tarantino when you're the best there is and probably the best you're ever was you can afford to be a little bit arrogant and none of us Bruce Lee fans really care what you think about him he was the greatest ever that no one going to be like him and of course his daughter and his best friend are going to stick out for him damn man stop making movies depicting people as being arrogant and
Matt
2022-11-27 17:18:39
Of course Bruce Lee was cocky. He was Bruce Lee. He probably could have beaten Ali. The guy is a legend and Tarantino highlighting his cockiness should not sully his reputation. The film wasnt portrayed to be historically accurate and it was supposed to add weight to Pitt's character by showing he could stand up to even Bruce effin Lee. Not sure if anyone missed the ending, but unfortunately, that's not what happened to Tate and friends, sadly. It's cinema. It's art. It's not fact. It's pulp fiction.
Raul Marin
2022-11-27 21:43:02
Bruce wasn't arrogant, he was self confident. And never belittled others to build himself up. In fact he would be humble even when he was self assured. Tarantino does have a right to make his fictional films, but what he has said about Bruce in interviews After the film are wrong and disrespectful. He said he heard Bruce say these things. How could he? In all the information we have on Bruce there has never been any mention of Tarantino. Not with Steve McQueen, James Colburn, Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, Kareem Abdul Jabar. Not Mohamed Ali, in fact Bruce admired Ali. All he ever said was that some day he would have to fight Ali. Bruce worked very hard at developing his mind, body both physical conditioning and in martial arts. He had real fights with gangs growing up, not rule guided fights/ tournaments. He knew himself and was proud of his hard earned abilities. Can anyone feel anything less. Tarantino is stating false things that do not show Bruce in real life.
Mark Nagemi
2022-11-28 10:09:41
Bruce Lee died as Bruce Lee left a huge legacy for generations,my advice is at least he's alive let him learn from Bruce ABCD ,stop hating we need to see more important potential from your uniqueness
Christopher S Reilly
2022-11-29 17:10:09
What a joke...firstly more than anything else that is evident the crying of the divisiveness and annoying "VICTIMHOOD" cult speech propelled by both the primary respondents to the " Once upon a Time in Hollywood"....which is nothing but a fictional film, but says a lot about more our current Society than anything about Bruce Lee. When I was around 8-9 years old , I used to see, talk with, and share a lunch table with a young Bruce Lee in Seattle's International District in 1963. His gym and the traditional Chinese restaurant were in very close and common neighborhood setting where I was just another student in a class being conducted - A Self Defense Course by Bruce Treger - also a Martial Arts heavyweight at the time. After the classes all ended around 13:30 or so , essentially the gym would empty out and we the famished participants would quickly rush to get a table and enjoy a full on Full-on traditional Chinese lunch. Bruce at that time was just starting to noticed in California in various tournaments and had just recently bought into the gym. He was still a student at UW and Celeb he definitely was not. He was a driven young man who all the students including me looked up to. Often we would all buy individual dishes and share, and he often buying everybody the "Big Meat" dishes. He took an interest in everyone's training and would often repeat to all the Chinese proverbs that inspired strength discipline and endurance. He was a beginning Sifu and race never entered his words, attitudes or thoughts as I saw it. "Racist" "White-guy superiority" however all managed to come streaming through both respondents verbiage. Always to the Same Old Fall Back for liberalism. White guy John Wayne Racism. Check that consistent victimhood rant. I am definitely a white guy. I sincerely doubt Bruce Lee would approve of any of this blather over what he would see as nothing. He might kick Tarentino's ass, but cry about some racist crap..never.
Eel
2022-12-11 10:50:11
You are obviously a racist, probably hated Bruce Lee because he wasn’t white clearly a Chuck Norris fan@Steven Goss
Nower
2022-12-11 20:23:57
My opinion is that Once Upon.... is overall one of the less good Tarantino films.
Gerald Stewart
2022-12-14 16:52:55
Lee was u Beatle he should have done it better if Lee was around it be a hold different story lee would not have gone for that he was the best and it never be another he theman
Stephen Hall
2023-04-21 17:12:05
Tarantino is the one who is arrogant, and ignorant to boot, anyone who truly knows about Bruce knows that his depiction is bs, and shows a total misunderstanding of the man. Lee was a great innovator and artist whose work will outlast Tantino’s derivative work by a long way, imho. Bruce has elegance and class and could back up his claims, Quentin has some film making skills but has always seemed an annoying poseur to me.
Laurence W Lance
2023-04-21 17:38:48
Lee and I are a few years apart in age, so Lee left Seattle's Chinatown a couple of years before I started training. I never met him. I have roots in Chinatown that go back to the 1930s, so I heard things about Chinatown, about politics and yes about Lee that most non residents never did. Also, I've not seen this film. All that understood, I can say that senior people in Chinatown at the time did not think well of Lee. This had nothing to do with his teaching "whites'. I know of at least two other far more qualified Chinese gung fu teachers had mixed race classes and nothing was said about it. To be fair to Lee, he was very young. He came to Seattle about 18 or 19 years old . He was 23 or 24 when he left Seattle. There doesn't seem to be any reliable information what Lee was doing in Seattle. Some reports are he was a University of Washington student. Other reports are that he was at a Community College. Maybe it was both. I've never seen proof he graduated for either. Likewise, any record of his being a student of Ip Man seems sketchy. I've read a little over one year, 1957 to 1958, and other reports that he started at age 13 in 1953. Comments of how disorganized he was, from one of his students in Seattle, would argue that his time with Ip Man was brief. That Lee was immature, and had a chip on his shoulder seems pretty well documented. But again, let's remember that he was very young, extremely ambitious, and very driven, all also being well documented. Lastly, we come to the times he lived in. It was pretty rough and tumble in those early martial arts days. We'd expect that, because most of the karate schools were run by ex GIs who had trained in Japan or Okinawa. So, was he an arrogant ass? From everything I've heard from old Chinatown, yep he was. But to be fair, most of us were in those days.
Duke Eng
2023-04-21 17:50:54
i think bruce is a confident person we know he can tackle anybody i don’t think tarantino know bruce as well as everyone thinks he just want to make money on bruce but if bruce is alive things would be different with tarantino
Basil Grace
2023-04-22 20:58:45
I have a lot of respect for Shannon lee for the things she said, because her father Bruce lee is the reason why not just me but also some of my family have been learning wing Chun for some years, and I have all his movies I have been a fan for 47 years, I also know some Hollywood stars who would be on your side because they are learning wing Chun. I am from New Zealand,
Luis
2023-04-23 13:07:32
Bruce Lee was a very nice person. The fact that he was the best ever, tends to make some arrogant people think that he was arrogant like themselves.
Kevin
2023-04-23 20:01:48
Clearly Tarantino knows nothing about Bruce’s teachings about fighting. Bruce studied fighting so intensely he found ancient secrets to it. Good luck landing a strike on Bruce Lee! You would miss every time, he’s too fast, and he’d use your momentum to destroy you. There’s all kinds of fighters, and then there’s Master’s in ancient arts. Bruce Lee was a great Master gifted with secrets in fighting. Study what he had to say Tarantino before disrespecting a Master. QT looks like the loud mouth dumbass here!
Abdullah
2023-05-22 16:55:18
I think his portrayal of the Bruce Lee scene is about as accurate as how the Manson murderers ended up in the end and Shannon Tate still alive. Retarded from all angles and a true Tarantino fail. Is this really the same guy who made Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction? The man is clearly losing it. Bruce Lee is more legendary than Tarantino could dream of being.
David Pauley
2023-05-25 19:40:23
Bruce Lee was a great champion and I don’t think any man that didn’t have the skill set that he has in martial arts could beat him! On the other hand, if you’re going to make a movie about a great martial artist, you should portray him as he is in real life, not add a lot of BS to it!
Wayne Mathews
2023-05-25 23:43:09
Well tarantino is a movie maker and most action movies are about fiction not real moves at all . Bruce lee wasn't about dumb fiction he was about realism . Being as real in a movie as possible thats why Bruce's movies are more special because of that take Bruce lee out and his movies fall in a heap. Nobody as organised get close to Bruce. As far as this cliff character crap goes thats all it is crap superman incredible hulk awesome four etc all fiction so tarantinos portrayal of Bruce lee doesn't count in real situation every one in that movie in real life would get destroyed by Bruce lee
Brian Johnson
2023-05-26 07:35:28
Bruce Lee sadly isn’t here to defend himself from Tarantino’s fictional representation. Maybe he doesn’t know that it is utterly wrong to insult the dead. Bruce Lee is and always will be a role model and a legend. So leave him the fuck alone
Phil Hayter
2023-05-31 17:49:19
I think were ever Bruce would fight him he would win easily, there are skills we didn't no about Bruce and no way he would let a punk like him beat him, he was the master one fight would have been enough for him to realise Bruce was far superior to him x
Bodhi
2023-06-25 03:15:40
“Those who laugh at what they do not understand are ignoramuses who walk the path of idiocy.”
Rina
2023-08-27 21:31:07
Tarantino needs to acknowledge Bruce Lee's enormous and exceedinly loyal fan base before making ill-informed comments about Bruce Lee, who had absolutely nothing to prove as a martial artist. He was not arrogant, he was confident because be was brilliant. Tarantino needs to concentrate on what he is good at rather than insult an absolute master.
Jerry Williams
2023-10-27 02:22:59
There has never been and will never be a true dedicated man to his work his art and his family ,it is one thing to talk about some one who is not here to defend his self ,and if he was the mouths would be proven wrong .I have been a true fan since a child .and of Brandon and Shannon .it is sad the so called movie producers can dream up a script on there own but to bring up a decent man's live and criticize for the greed of money .the lee family needs better respect,hands down
dewman50 Wakefield
2023-10-28 04:23:13
leave bruce lee alone the man was self confident he earned it
Paula
2023-10-28 13:51:59
I'll defend Bruce Lees current reputation.
Sean Kingman
2023-10-28 18:31:41
Tarantino portrayed Bruce Lee as Tarantino would act if he had half that talent and skill. All he can base anything about Bruce Lee on is hearsay
Hill Linda
2023-10-29 16:49:09
Bruce Lee would win

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