Patricia Arquette Uses Her Boss Oscars Speech to Fight For Wage Equality
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Patricia Arquette is proving to be the hero of Oscar night. The Boyhood star used her Best Supporting Actress acceptance speech in the best way possible: by addressing the unfair wage gap between men and women.
After thanking her Boyhood cast and crew, Arquette called for equal rights for women, proclaiming it's time for men and women to be given the same pay for the same job. "It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all!" she exclaimed.
Her speech was welcomed with a rave response from the crowd, particularly seatmates Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez who went apeshit and leaped out of their chairs to cheer her on.
tbh the only gif you need tonight. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/tWNhA9BYMK — HuffPost Live (@HuffPostLive) February 23, 2015UPDATE 2/24/2015
Ever since her acceptance speech, Arquette received a lot of flack from the crazies who not only complained that she had no right to comment on wage equality since she's a successful actress, but also that equal pay would hurt the economy. She took to Twitter to address the criticisms:
Don't talk to me about privilege. As a kid I lived well below the poverty line. No matter where I am I won't forget women's struggle. — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) February 24, 2015
I was a working single mom at 20. I know how hard it is to pay for diapers and food .Explain why women should be paid less? — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) February 24, 2015The working poor women of this country have been asking for help for decades. If I have "privilege" or a voice I will shine a light on them. — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) February 24, 2015A shout out to Kamala Lopez Dawson and @ERAeducation ! — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) February 24, 2015Arquette already knows the way. Now here are other ways the Oscars can spice things up.
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[Photo Credit: Getty Images]