Film composer Ennio Morricone's allegedly harsh words about Quentin Tarantino might have been "reproduced incorrectly" in a recent article for German Playboy, the magazine's editor-in-chief said Tuesday, hinting at new information he had obtained.
"Up to now, we have considered the freelancer who conducted the Ennio Morricone interview on our behalf to be a renowned print and radio journalist," editor Florian Boitin said in a statement. In the past, he added, they'd had "no reason" to doubt the writer's journalistic integrity or skills.
However, Boitin said, "Based on the information now at our disposal, we must unfortunately assume that the words spoken in the interview have, in part, been reproduced incorrectly."
In the article, which is featured in the December edition of German Playboy and touted online on a teaser page, Morricone allegedly insulted Tarantino and disparaged his skill as a director. He was also quoted dismissing the Academy Awards as frivolous.
The 90-year-old Italian composer strongly denied the quotes.
"I have never expressed any negative statements about the Academy, Quentin, or his films _ and certainly do not consider his films garbage," Morricone said Sunday in a statement on his website. "I consider Tarantino a great director. I am very fond of my collaboration with him and the relationship we have developed during the time we have spent together."
Morricone, who worked with Tarantino on 2015's "The Hateful Eight," said he was asking his Italian attorney to pursue legal action against the magazine.
"We would like to express our regret should Mr. Morricone have been portrayed in a false light," Playboy's Boitan said. "We are working to clarify this matter and are exploring legal measures."
