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Sherri Shepherd Calls out Barbara Walters For N-Word Use

Posted: October 4, 2011

Sherri Shepherd Barbara Walters
Barbara Walters tripped and stammered over the use of a racially-charged epithet in the reporting of a story recently, when the staid anchor was discussing the brouhaha over a hunting camp used by Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry.

When the offensively-named camp came up in discussion during a recent candidates’ debate, fellow Republican candidate Herman Cain used the word in describing the location, though other candidates were not as comfortable calling the ranch by its iffy moniker. Of her feelings in using the word, Walters said:

“It’s very hard for me to say… It gives me chills.”

Shepherd then discussed the different way she felt hearing co-host Whoopi Goldberg use the word as opposed to when Walters used it. Shepherd clarified:

“When I heard [Whoopi] say it, it was fine… I didn’t like the way [Barbara] said it… I don’t know if it’s a semantics thing, but it’s something that goes through my body.”

Walters questioned:

“Is it because I’m white?”

Shepherd then said:

“It’s something about hearing you say it… I don’t like it when you use the word… when you say it it’s a different connotation.”

Walters then pressed:

“If I’m reporting on this, you mean I can’t use the word?”

To which Shepherd dodged:

“You can do anything you want! You’re Barbara Walters!”

Walters quite reasonably pointed out that the statement was a little passive aggressive and unfair on Shepherd’s part:

“I’m sorry, that has nothing to do with it, Sherri… I never knew you felt this way and I find it just amazing.”

Shepherd also told Walters that the veteran newswoman can’t “take away” how Shepherd feels when white people use the slur, even in the context of a news broadcast. Should the word be stricken even from the news? Was Shepherd fair to Barbara Walters?



Comments


21 Archived Responses to “ Sherri Shepherd Calls out Barbara Walters For N-Word Use ”

  1. Lorey Henderson Spears
    Oct 4, 2011

    double standards – that's why I hate the word..

  2. Kim Delks
    Oct 4, 2011

    You should hate the word, regardless who says it. Its meant to hurt, I don't care if you're black or white!

  3. Sonya Hatch Wallace
    Oct 4, 2011

    I'm glad she put Barbara in her place, its about time!

  4. Bluto Brutus
    Oct 4, 2011

    the "N" word should never be used by anyone, ever…

  5. Moe Stuuge
    Oct 4, 2011

    get over it you piccaninny.

  6. Hazel Wingate
    Oct 4, 2011

    I't a word that should be deleted from the dictionary and counted as a hate crime for ALL who uses it! That's how offensive it is to me!

  7. Derrick X Arafat
    Oct 4, 2011

    You Can Not Get Mad When Someone White Use The Word When You Hear It In The Movies Music You Also Can Not Say It Okay If A Black Use It There Is Nothing Good That Come From That It is Time For All To Stop Using The Word Or You Will Keep The Same Lame Game Going On.

  8. William Dean Loftis
    Oct 4, 2011

    Sherri, came off as the racist implying that all white people are racist just for reading a word in News script. theirs a lot of racists on this planet black and white that's why we cant have peace in this world!

  9. Gordon Marble
    Oct 4, 2011

    If my children call me stupid, I laugh because I know where they are coming from. They are not calling me stupid with the intention of hurting. I understand the affection underneath. But if a stranger calls me stupid, he'd best be ready for a fight. Any time I have been called the "N" word by a white person it has been intended to hurt or belittle me.

  10. Jeremy Johnson
    Oct 4, 2011

    I think it's hyporcritical for Sherri Shepard to say it's okay for Whoopie to use the N word but it's offensive if Barbara Walters uses the N word… I hate that anyone uses that word… I hate that word…

  11. Ahim Anyd
    Oct 4, 2011

    http://adf.ly/2vZ8P

  12. Mary Jo Ankney-Terlisner
    Oct 5, 2011

    Sherri is a petty, small minded person, just looking for a squabble.. she knows Barbara better than that.

  13. Debra LeCouter
    Oct 5, 2011

    So OK for blacks to use the word in music, writing, acting whatever, not Ok for whites because why? If Barbara is truly in charge of that show can that bitches ass for a pure racist double standard…

  14. Doris Marie Jones
    Oct 31, 2011

    Personally, I believe if African Americans will stop using the "N" word in their so-calle songs, others may not use it. They probably feel since it's userd so much now than ever pubically, that no one will mind. I detest the N" word used by anyone, especially by Afrcan Americans. We don't want to be called this word so stop using it.

  15. Plum Gurly
    Sep 29, 2012

    Really, if you are reporting on what someone says, you should be able to say it. If something comes up in court, they will say whatever words the defendant said, like if it is a murder trial, and the defendant said, "I will f****** k*ll you, you n*****." That would show the court there was intention and that it was a hate crime. There are non-hate ways to use the word, like in fair reporting. I remember where a Black teacher tried to get a professor canned for saying n*gardly. That word means stingy and is not derived from the other N-word. By the time it got to the chancellor and the president, they had a good laugh and said that was a reason for more dialog on racial matters, not sweeping it under the rug and hiding valid racial concerns and objections from both sides.

  16. Plum Gurly
    Sep 29, 2012

    I agree. Either agree that it deserves no emotional charge and collectively decide not to get offended, or decide that nobody should use it at least for a fixed number of years. I was at a stoplight and heard someone's loud rap. The words were, "I'm a mother f****** n***a," over and over. So how can someone call themselves one in such blatant terms and then get mad when someone else calls you what you call yourself? That is almost as bad as the inmate who managed to trademark his name and then sue the guards for breach of trademark for all the times they called his name.

  17. Plum Gurly
    Sep 29, 2012

    It is not always meant to hurt. In the modern usage, it is a bonding term, suggesting shared hardships. Words can have multiple meanings. Of course, the rappers usually soften it up by replacing "er" with "a" on the end.

    The Q-word for gay is now considered acceptable, as long as it is used for identification or bonding purposes. However, they allow anyone to use it equally. In some places, that has replaced "LGBT" on signs and in building names. The proponents of the reclaimed usage say it makes it easier to expand the name. When they tried to unite, they tried to use the term gay for everyone. Well, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered all had a problem with that. So it became Gay & Lesbian, GayLesBi, GayLesBiTrans, LGBTQI2SA…, and then simply Queer.

  18. Plum Gurly
    Sep 29, 2012

    I think the simpler solution is to stop getting offended when you hear it. People use it *because* we get offended. They use it as a form of power over others, and we assign that power to them then blame them for what we allow. A bully only bullies when his/her actions get the desired results. Sure, they may step up their game at first, but then they give up or switch targets. So being shocked, appalled, offended, and calling it a hate crime gives them power and only encourages them to use it. If they can wreck your day with it, they will use it. So if you let them wreck your day when they use it, then you are giving your power to them and letting them win. I learned a long time ago not to look around when I hear such slurs. They are not my names, so why should I answer or respond to them?

    What if someone said, "Yes, I am a n**** and d*mned proud of it. I'd rather be a n***** than a racist sack of sh*t?" So if there is no rise, then why use it? The gays have reclaimed all their hate terms and take them as terms of endearment. They call themselves queers, d*kes, l*sbos, queens, tr*nnies, etc.

  19. Plum Gurly
    Sep 29, 2012

    Reminds me of a lady who calls herself Stupid Little Genius on Facebook and elsewhere. To her, that is an endearing term, since it was her brother he gave her the nickname. They were playing chess and he was mad that she was winning and yet amazed she beat him. The name stuck.

  20. Plum Gurly
    Sep 29, 2012

    But maybe she deserved it for other things more.

  21. Plum Gurly
    Sep 29, 2012

    That is a little much.