Quentin Tarantino today fired back at Rosanna Arquette‘s recent critique of Pulp Fiction, specifically Tarantino’s frequent use of the N-word.
“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?” wrote Tarantino in a statement obtained by Deadline. “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.”
In a recent interview Arquette, who was in the film, acknowledged the Palme d’Or winning picture is “iconic, a great film on a lot of levels. But personally I am over the use of the N-word,” she told The Times U.K. “I hate it.”
She continued, “I cannot stand that he [Tarantino] has been given a hall pass. It’s not art, it’s just racist and creepy.”
Rosanna Arquette in ‘Pulp Fiction’
Miramax/Everett Collection
The word is used in Pulp Fiction about 20 times, buy one count. But Tarantino was just getting started, it seems. Jackie Brown (1997) saw more than 30 uses of the slur. Django Unchained in 2012 had more than 100 instances.
In 1997, Spike Lee condemned Tarantino’s overuse of the slur, saying, “I’m not against the word, and I use it, but not excessively. And some people speak that way. But, Quentin is infatuated with that word. What does he want to be made — an honorary Black man?”
More recently, filmmaker Lee Daniels has also critiqued Tarantino’s decision to use the word in his projects — particularly when the Inglourious Basterds director advised audiences to “see something else” if they had a problem with his creative choices. “That’s not the right answer,” Daniels said.
See Tarantino’s statement on the subject in full below.
Dear Rosanna,
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?
Do you feel this way now?
Very possibly.
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.
There is supposed to be an esprit de corps between artistic colleagues.
But it would appear the objective was accomplished.
Congratulations
Q
Natalie Oganesyan contributed to this report.
