Pulp Fiction star Rosanna Arquette slams Quentin Tarantino’s use of N-word in his films as she calls it ‘racist’ and ‘creepy’

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Rosanna Arquette strongly criticized Quentin Tarantino’s decision to use the N-word in his movies, calling it both racist and unsettling.

The 66-year-old actress, known for her role as Jody in the director’s 1994 film Pulp Fiction, recently shared her views on the subject in an interview with The Times.

She described the seven-time Academy Award nominee as ‘iconic’ and a ‘great film on a lot of levels’ in a recent interview.

However, Arquette then added, ‘But personally I am over the use of the N-word. I hate it. 

‘I cannot stand that he has been given a hall pass. It’s not art, it’s just racist and creepy.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Tarantino, but did not immediately hear back. 

In Pulp Fiction, Arquette played Jody, the wife of drug dealer Lance, portrayed by Eric Stoltz.

Spike Lee is one of several celebrities who have commented on Quentin Tarantino’s choice to use a particular word in his films.

In a previous interview with Variety, the director discussed Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 film Jackie Brown and the use of a racial slur – specifically, the N-word – which appeared 38 times in the movie.

Lee said he doesn’t object to the word and even uses it himself, but he’s careful not to overuse it. He shared this while discussing his work, including the film Malcolm X (1992).

Some people talk like that, but Quentin is really fixated on the idea. Is he trying to be seen as Black, to be accepted as one?

Lee explained that not all Black people find that word cool or acceptable, and he wanted Quentin to understand that.

In 2020, screenwriter John Ridley criticized the Oscar-winning director for repeatedly using a racial slur in his movies, calling it deeply upsetting.

Ridley Scott explained to PA News Agency that Quentin Tarantino seems to enjoy using words simply for the sake of it, rather than for any specific meaning or context.

He admitted it was upsetting and frustrating, but he didn’t believe in completely banning the word. He wouldn’t want to say it could never be used again.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the discussions around Quentin Tarantino’s work, and it’s come to light – based on research done by the Dallas Observer – that the N-word appears roughly 214 times across ten of his films, including ‘The Hateful Eight’. It’s a significant number and a key part of the ongoing conversation about his creative choices.

The 2012 movie Django Unchained, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, and Christoph Waltz, used a particular offensive word approximately 110 times.

In a 2022 interview with Chris Wallace, Quentin Tarantino addressed concerns about his use of racial slurs and depictions of violence in his movies.

Wallace questioned how one would respond to criticism about excessive violence or frequent use of a racial slur in his films, according to Variety.

Tarantino simply responded with, ‘You should see [something else]. Then see something else.’

He continued by saying that if someone doesn’t enjoy his films, they’re clearly not the right audience for them.

Several actors have come out in support of the word’s use in his films, such as Jamie Foxx, who starred in Django Unchained.

He told Yahoo Entertainment that despite the repeated use of a racial slur – which appeared around 100 times – he was still able to understand the overall message of the text, explaining it reflected the language used during that period.

Okay, so Samuel L. Jackson gets it. He totally said it best when he talked to Esquire back in 2019 – he just called the whole thing “some bulls,” and honestly, that’s exactly how I feel too! It’s so refreshing to hear him say what everyone’s thinking. He’s a legend, seriously.

You can’t silence a writer or dictate how they portray characters, including their unique voices and language based on their backgrounds.

The actor explained that changing the story wouldn’t be right, saying, ‘It wouldn’t be truthful, and it wouldn’t be genuine. It just wouldn’t feel honest.’

In December of last year, Quentin Tarantino faced criticism for describing actor Paul Dano, known for his role in There Will Be Blood, as both ‘weak’ and ‘uninteresting’.

He made the comments during an appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis podcast. 

Many actors rushed to support Dano, including Matthew Lillard, George Clooney, and his “There Will Be Blood” co-star, Daniel Day-Lewis.

In January, Dano responded to Tarantino’s remarks, telling Variety he was thankful for the public support he received, as it meant he didn’t have to address the situation himself.

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2026-03-08 21:34