Rosanna Arquette reveals FBI told her to ‘lock’ Twitter account after she tweeted she felt shame at being ‘born white and privileged’
- The actress, 59, says she received ‘threatening and cruel’ backlash
- She told The Wrap the FBI advised her to make tweets private ‘to protect myself’
- On Wednesday, she had tweeted ‘I’m sorry I was born white and privileged. It disgusts me’
- Arquette made headlines in 2017 when she called out Harvey Weinstein for his predatory behavior
- She is the older sister of Hollywood stars Patricia Arquette and David Arquette
Rosanna Arquette has ‘locked’ her Twitter account on the advice of the FBI after getting backlash for tweeting she feels shame for being ‘born white and privileged’.
After switching her Twitter feed to be visible only to those who follow her, the actress, 59, told The Wrap: ‘Yes I’m locked to protect myself I was told by FBI to lock it up.’
The online publication reported that Arquette would not elaborate on how and why the FBI got involved or the specific reason for their advice.
Rosanna Arquette said Thursday that she has ‘locked’ her Twitter account on the advice of the FBI after tweeting she feels shame for being ‘born white and privileged’
On Wednesday, the Pulp Fiction star had tweeted: ‘I’m sorry I was born white and privileged. It disgusts me. And I feel so much shame.’
In a statement to The Wrap on Thursday, Arquette addressed the online response to what she wrote, saying: ‘There are toxic and very vicious people on social media. Threatening and cruel.’
She reiterated that she’s ashamed of the color of her skin, stating: ‘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.’
‘I feel truly desolate at the bigotry and severe racism that we are witnessing in 2019,’ she added.
The actress, 59, had expressed her shame about being ‘born white and privileged’ in a tweet she sent out on Wednesday to her 90,000 followers on Twitter
After switching her Twitter feed to be visible only to those who follow her, Arquette told The Wrap: ‘Yes I’m locked to protect myself I was told by FBI to lock it up’
Arquette is the older sister of actors Patricia Arquette and David Arquette and her film credits include Desperately Seeking Susan, After Hours and Crash and she directed the 2002 documentary Searching for Debra Winger.
Arquette made headlines when she was one of the first women to call out the movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for his predatory behavior towards women.
The actress went public with her story in 2017 and claimed her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein’s advances in the early 1990s.
She alleged that Weinstein had tried to put her hand on his erect penis during a hotel meeting.
In a statement to The Wrap on Thursday, Arquette addressed the online response to what she wrote, saying: ‘There are toxic and very vicious people on social media. Threatening and cruel’
The revelations about Weinstein helped to launch the #MeToo movement, but this past January, Arquette told Variety she remained wary that there would be real change in Hollywood.
‘There’s a boys club that protects the boys,’ she told the publication. ‘He’s just one of many men, as we’re seeing more and more men being exposed for their awful behavior and their abuse of power.’
She reiterated her concerns to The Wrap on Thursday.
‘The Boy’s Club is bigger than it ever [has been], so the attacks are really actually dangerous right now,’ she said.
‘But that’s what they want, to put me in a state of fear. And I say no. I will not be afraid so I will protect myself and I do have people around me who are ready to protect me if someone goes after me. Don’t f— with me is where I’m at.’
Arquette made headlines in 2017 when she was one of the first women to call out movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for his predatory behavior towards women (The two are pictured in 2001)