Following Rosanna Arquette’s criticism of Quentin Tarantino’s usage of the N-word in his movies in a recent interview, Tarantino is retaliating. In a lengthy interview with The Sunday Times, Arquette talked about her little part in Tarantino’s 1994 black comedy “Pulp Fiction,” stating that although it’s “a great film on a lot of levels,” she usually dislikes the director’s frequent usage of racial garble in his sphere of movies.
“Personally, I am over the use of the N-word — I hate it,” Arquette said. “I cannot stand that he [Tarantino] has been given a hall pass. It’s not art, it’s just racist and creepy.”
In a letter on Monday, Tarantino addressed Arquette’s comments, criticizing the actor for ruining the movie and displaying “a decided lack of class, no less honor.”
He tackled Arquette directly in his message, saying, “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 part of.” (via Variety)
“Do you feel this way now? Very possibly,” Tarantino added. “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 honor.”
Other crowds and industry experts have criticized Taratinto’s usage of the N-word before Arquette did. Although the racial slur appears roughly 20 times in “Pulp Fiction,” Tarantino’s detractors sometimes point to “Django Unchained” as an issue because it contains the racist epithet almost 110 times. Other celebrities besides Arquette have criticized Tarantino’s employment of the N-word in his movies. Spike Lee publicly chastised the filmmaker after it again surfaced in his 1997 murder movie Jackie Brown.
However, Jamie Foxx and his regular collaborator, Samuel L. Jackson, who has starred in almost every Tarantino motion picture until now, notably “Pulp Fiction,” have repeatedly upheld Tarantino’s usage of the N-word in his writings.
