Quentin Tarantino has issued a scathing response after Pulp Fiction actor Rosanna Arquette criticised the film's excessive use of the N-word.
Arquette played drug dealer Lance's girlfriend Jody in the movie, and recently looked back on the cult favourite film, describing it as 'iconic.'
"A great film," she said of the 1994 classic, during a conversation with the Times of London, adding: "But personally I am over the use of the N-word, I hate it."
The 66-year-old continued: "I cannot stand that [Tarantino] has been given a hall pass. It’s not art, it’s just racist and creepy.”
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Arquette was referring to the fact the racial slur is spoken 20 different times in Pulp Fiction, and also appears nearly 40 times in his 1997 thriller Jackie Brown, and a further 110 times in his 2012 western Django Unchained.
Tarantino has now addressed the actor's criticisms with a scathing statement, in which he said her comments showed a 'decided lack of class.'
"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?" he wrote on Monday, 9 March.
"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 honour.
"There is supposed to be an esprit de corps between artistic colleagues. But it would appear the objective was accomplished."
Back in 2022, the director addressed the backlash by telling anyone who has a problem with the use of the word in his films to go and 'see something else.'
"If you have a problem with my movies, then they aren’t the movies to go see," he told CNN. "Apparently, I’m not making them for you."
Meanwhile, fellow filmmaker Spike Lee, who is known to explore race relations in his work, has suggested Tarantino is 'infatuated' with the word.
"I'm not against the word," Lee told Variety that year. "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?"
Lee added: "“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.
"I want Quentin to know that all African Americans do not think that word is trendy or slick."
Topics: Quentin Tarantino, TV and Film
Emma Rosemurgey