Patricia Arquette's 'People of Color' Comment Criticized

Best Supporting Actress winner Patricia Arquette, who made an impassioned appeal for women's equality on Oscars 2015 stage, landed in trouble by calling "people of color" to fight for women's rights in the backstage interview during the ceremony.

The "Boyhood" actress got a standing ovation by Meryl Streep during the ceremony on Sunday and much praise in the media for her speech which urged for wages equality.

In her answer to a question whether she had seen Streep's reaction, Arquette, 46, said she had not but she later hugged the veteran actress. She then went on to elaborate on her onstage comments, saying, " ... even though we sort of feel like we have equal rights in America, right under the surface, there are huge issues that are applied that really 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've all fought for to fight for us now."

The comment sparked an instant reaction on Twitter with many expressing disappointment. "People of colour have enjoyed freedom for so, so long and yet we continue to ignore the plight of downtrodden Patricia Arquettes. #ashamed," one user wrote.

"Other than disappearing women of color, trans women, and lesbians, Arquette was great," said another. Arquette later took to Twitter to defend her comments, saying, "I have long been an advocate for the rights of the #LBGT community. The question is why aren't you an advocate for equality for ALL women? "Guess which women are the most negatively effected in wage inequality? Women of color. #Equalpay for ALL women. Women stand together in this."