Rosanna Arquette: 'I'm sorry I was born white and privileged'
Rosanna Arquette has locked her Twitter account after a tweet she posted on Wednesday prompted “threatening and cruel” backlash.
The actress, known for starring in films like Desperately Seeking Susan and Pulp Fiction, as well as her recent work as a #MeToo activist, caused a stir when she tweeted that she felt “so much shame” and disgust at being born white and privileged.
Arquette — whose siblings include actors Patricia, David and the late Alexis Arquette — faced ridicule from conservative commenters thanks in part to far-right outlet Breitbart News’s coverage of her statement.
OMG Get our of here with that! My mother is white and never had any privilege! She busted her butt while raising 5 kids! Still to this day everything she has works hard for, not given a dam handout! Girl bye! Officially pissed off both races in me, Black and White!
— Jynaia Williams (@nursebadie) August 8, 2019
Embarrassing to white people everywhere #IsMyPrivilegeShowing
— Cam T (@camtwnsnd) August 8, 2019
Yeah, she's ashamed, but she sure took full advantage of it ...
— Lenny Kostecki (@thelennyk) August 8, 2019
Many of the reactions, including one from comedian Nick DiPaolo, made claims about her mental health, with some of the more abusive tweets suggesting suicide.
Yeah, well there’s an easy solution. Just think of it as late late late late late late late late late late late late late late late late term abortion. #MentallyIll https://t.co/yvljuLnm4o
— Nick DiPaolo (@NickDiPaolo) August 7, 2019
In a statement to The Wrap, Arquette claimed that the FBI had urged her to make her Twitter account private, though she didn’t elaborate on how federal law enforcement got involved. Only the 89,600 accounts who were already following Arquette — who has locked her account in the past — are privy to her tweets.
“Yes, I’m locked to protect myself,” she said, adding, “I was told by FBI to lock it up.
“There are toxic and very vicious people on social media,” she continued. “Threatening and cruel. I said yesterday the I am ashamed of the color of my skin. I am privileged just because I’m white. I feel shame. Because of all the violence that is happening in America and other racist countries.”
Arquette has primarily used her Twitter to criticize Donald Trump as well as speak about women’s rights and the #MeToo movement, which she became involved in after going public with her allegation of being sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein in the ‘90s. She has blamed her rejection of the movie producer for being “blackballed” by the film industry.
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