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Patricia Arquette Comments Are ‘Aggravating,’ Leave People ‘Appalled’

By JenniferP
Published on: 02:54 PST, Feb 24, 2015

During Sunday’s Oscar Awards, Patricia Arquette made a speech that had both Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez stand from their seats, cheering her on. But not everyone feels the same, not even close to the same.

In her acceptance speech, Arquette said, “To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America.”

And it was that statement and her backstage explanation that left many people “appalled,” including Stacey Dash. Dash, of Clueless fame, appeared on Fox and Friends on Monday morning, and when speaking of Arquette’s speech said, “I couldn’t believe it,” as seen on the Independent.

Dash went on to say what exactly she couldn’t believe about Arquette’s speech, adding, “First of all, Patricia Arquette needs to do her history… In 1963, Kennedy passed an equal pay law. It’s still in effect. I didn’t get the memo that I didn’t have any rights.”

Dash even took to Twitter to address a special tweet to Arquette.

And Dash is far from the only one upset with Arquette’s comments.

According to the Washington Post, people started “ripping Patricia Arquette to shreds” as soon as she spoke. They tried looking between lines that weren’t there by ripping apart each and every word.

“Why was there specific mention of ‘citizens’ and ‘taxpayers?’ Was she deliberately omitting people? And what of the verbiage of ‘women who give birth’ when there are plenty of mothers who didn’t or couldn’t give birth to their children? Why didn’t she just say ‘mothers?'”

Arquette did read from a prepared speech, which left many saying that “the overwhelming nature of the moment” could not have been the reason for her “imprecise” wording.

Critics added that they are angry because of what Arquette added backstage, trying to clarify her acceptance speech.

Backstage, Arquette added, “The truth is, right under the surface, there are huge issues that are at play that do affect women, and it’s time for all the women in America and all the men that love women and all the gay people and all the people of color that we all fought for to fight for us now.”

It was this second statement that had Andrea Grimes commenting that the speech was a “fail” and writer Megan Kearns adding, “Her statement implies that LGBT people and people of color have achieved equality.”

Writing for the Nation writer, Dave Zirin, went so far as to say that Arquette’s speech was “aggravating,” explaining that “as if there aren’t masses of people who live beneath the weight of multiple labels that would benefit from such reforms.”

So what was meant to be a statement meant to empower women was soon ripped to shreds with people critiquing every syllable.

Arquette took to Twitter to defend herself and the statements she made Sunday.

While Patricia Arquette has many supporters, it’s clear to see that she has offended so many people with her remarks at Sunday’s awards ceremony.

[Photo Courtesy of Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

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