Quentin Tarantino Slams 'Pulp Fiction' Star for N-Word Criticism: 'Lack of Class'

Quentin Tarantino is hitting back—hard—after Pulp Fiction star Rosanna Arquette slammed the writer/director's use of the N-word in the classic 1994 film.

Arquette had a bit part in the movie, playing the wife of Eric Stoltz's Lance, the drug dealer of Vincent (John Travolta). During a recent interview with The Times, Arquette praised the movie as "iconic" and "a great film on a lot of levels," before dropping some heavy criticism on Tarantino for repeatedly using the racial slur in the script.

"Personally I am over the use of the N-word—I hate it," she told the outlet. "I cannot stand that he [Tarantino] has been given a hall pass. It's not art, it's just racist and creepy."

Tarantino Strikes Back

After Arquette's words went viral, Tarantino himself responded—issuing a scathing statement toEntertainment Weekly.

"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 began. "Do you feel this way now? Very possibly."

He then said that her decision to "trash" the movie "for what I suspect is very cynical reasons"—after taking the job and the paycheck—"shows a decided lack of class, no less honor."

"There is supposed to be an esprit de corps between artistic colleagues," he concluded. "But it would appear the objective was accomplished. Congratulations, Q."

Arquette has not responded to Tarantino's statement.

It's hardly the first time that Tarantino has defended himself after being called out over frequent use of the n-word in his scripts. Back in 2015, he called out "critic[s] in black culture" who had questioned him on the issue.

"When the black critics came out with savage think pieces about Django, I couldn’t have cared less. If people don’t like my movies, they don’t like my movies, and if they don’t get it, it doesn’t matter," he said to the New York Times.

Arquette Calls Out Harvey Weinstein

In the same interview with The Times, the actress also claimed she was "the only person" involved in the film who didn't make more money off its box office success.

"I'm the only person who didn't get a back end. Everybody made money except me," she added, before clarifying that she believes the film's producer, Harvey Weinstein, was to blame.

Arquette previously told reporter Ronan Farrow that Weinstein invited her to his hotel for dinner about a script in the early '90s. She said she was told to meet him in his room, claiming he was wearing only a bathrobe when she arrived, before he asked for a massage and attempted to put her hand on his penis. She believes her career suffered as a result of rejecting Weinstein, who is currently behind bars serving time for rape and sexual assault.

"I was fortunate because I was not raped. But, boy, was it going there and I paid a price for saying no," she told The Times, "and later I paid a price for telling the truth."