'A decided lack of class': Quentin Tarantino fires back at Rosanna Arquette for N-word criticism
Quentin Tarantino has issued a stinging response to Pulp Fiction star Rosanna Arquette after she questioned the director's "racist and creepy" use of the N-word in his film projects.
Quentin Tarantino has hit back at Rosanna Arquette after she criticised the "racist and creepy" use of the N-word in Pulp Fiction.
The 66-year-old actress, who played Jody in the 1994 movie, recently questioned why the filmmaker has been given a "hall pass" to use the offensive term in his work but Tarantino has suggested that the criticism is motivated by a desire for publicity.
The iconic filmmaker wrote in a statement: "I hope the publicity you're getting from 132 different media outlets writing your name and printing your picture was worth disrespecting me and a film I remember quite clearly you were thrilled to be a part of?
"But after I gave you a job, and you took the money, to trash it for what I suspect is very cynical reasons, shows a decided lack of class, no less honour."
Arquette had claimed that Tarantino's use of the N-word in the flick – which also stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman – was "racist and creepy" instead of "art".
The Desperately Seeking Susan star told The Sunday Times newspaper: "It’s iconic, a great film on a lot of levels. But personally I am over the use of the N-word — I hate it.
"I cannot stand that he [Tarantino] has been given a hall pass. It’s not art, it’s just racist and creepy."
Rosanna isn't the only person to question Tarantino's use of the N-word after Spike Lee hit out at its "excessive use" in the director's 1997 picture Jackie Brown.
He said at the time: "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."
The Do the Right Thing director spoke out again after Tarantino used the slur over 110 times in 2012's Django Unchained, which stars Jamie Foxx as the titular slave.
Spike told Vibe magazine: "It's disrespectful to my ancestors. That’s just me. … I’m not speaking on behalf of anybody else."
Tarantino has previously insisted he won't make changes as a result of the public criticism.
He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2012: "Not one word of social criticism that’s been levelled my way has ever changed one word of any script or any story I tell.
"I believe in what I’m doing wholeheartedly and passionately. It’s my job to ignore that."
Meanwhile, Tarantino caused a stir last year by branding Paul Dano a "weak sister" for his performance alongside Daniel Day-Lewis in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 movie There Will Be Blood – which the auteur rates in his top five favourite movies of the 21st century.
Speaking on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, the 62-year-old filmmaker said: "There Will Be Blood would stand a better chance to be in number one or number two if it didn't have a big giant flaw in it, and the flaw is Paul Dano.
"Obviously, it's supposed to be a two-hander, and it's also so drastically obvious that it's not a two-hander.
"He is weak sauce, man. He's a weak sister."
