Actress Rosanna Arquette, known for her role in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, has publicly condemned the famed filmmaker for what she describes as his excessive use of the N?word in that film and others throughout his career.

In a new interview, Arquette praised Pulp Fiction as “iconic” and acknowledged its place in cinema history, but said she has become uncomfortable with how often the racial slur appears in Tarantino’s dialogue. “Personally I am over the use of the N?word, I hate it,” she told The Times in remarks highlighted by Deadline.

Arquette also criticized what she sees as a cultural double standard that allows Tarantino to employ the slur repeatedly without facing significant consequences. “I cannot stand that he has been given a hall pass,” she said. “It’s not art, it’s just racist and creepy.”

Her comments reignite a longstanding debate over Tarantino’s language choices in his films. Critics over the years, including director Spike Lee and others in the film community, have previously argued that his frequent use of the N?word, especially in movies like Jackie Brown and Django Unchained, is excessive and insensitive.

Supporters of Tarantino have defended his creative choices, including frequent collaborator Samuel L. Jackson, who has argued that such language can reflect authenticity within certain character contexts.

Arquette’s remarks add a contemporary voice to the broader conversation about race, representation and language in Hollywood storytelling, especially in works that remain highly influential decades after their release.

Arquette has appeared in both television and feature films since 1977. One of her first noticeable roles was in S.O.B. (1981), directed by Blake Edwards. She earned an Emmy Award nomination for the TV film The Executioner’s Song (1982). However, she was unhappy with the film’s nude scene, remarking in an interview that the idea of the general public seeing her naked made her feel uncomfortable and exploited, and that most of the offers she had received since demanded that she similarly expose herself.[12] Her first starring role was in John Sayles’s film, Baby It’s You (1983), highly regarded by Rotten Tomatoes reviewers[13] but not widely distributed.[14]

She co-starred in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) alongside pop superstar Madonna, for which Arquette won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role despite appearing in the leading role. In an interview at the time, Arquette said “The two questions I hate the most are ‘What was it like working with Madonna?’ and ‘Are you the Rosanna in the song “Rosanna”?’.