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Jennifer Aniston Uses the Word Retard on Regis and Kelly: Video
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by Amy Judd | August 19, 2010 at 12:11 pm
751 views | 3 Recommendations | 4 comments
Jennifer Aniston in Trouble For Using the Word 'Retard' on Live with Regis and Kelly
Critics are blasting Jennifer Aniston for the use of the word 'retard' during an interview on Thursday morning. The actress was on the show promoting her new film The Switch when discussion turned to her tribute to Barbara Streisand for the September issue of Harper's Bazaar.
Regis said to her 'you're playing dress up!' and that is when Jennifer replied 'yes, I play dress up! I do it for a living, like a retard'.
The audience laughed and the subject quickly moved on, but the use of the wod did not go unnoticed and groups such as The Arc, a group for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, spoke to USMagazine.com about the incident. Their CEO Peter Berns said it was 'extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate':
"Frankly, someone in her position ought to know better," he tells Us. "She is using language that is offensive to a large segment of the population in this country. We estimate that there are probably in excess of 5 million people in the country with intellectual disabilities, and when you think about all of them, their family members and friends, you're talking about tens of millions of people who find the use of that term to be really offensive. Every time folks hear that word, it kind of reminds them of all the discrimination and oppression they've experienced in their lives. Even if it wasn't intended to insult them, that is the effect of it."
"Sadly, people use the word pervasively even if they don't realize it," Kirsten Seckler, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, tells Us. "People with intellectual disabilities have fought their whole lives for understanding and recognition. When people continue to use the R word, it's hurtful."
Stars may want to use the word "ridiculous" instead, she says. "Think before you speak," Seckler advises, "especially when you're making fun of yourself or others."
Jennifer Aniston has not responded to the backlash at the time of publication.
Watch the video below (around the 2:00 mark):
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Jennifer Aniston talks about "The Switch" on Live with Regis and Kelly August 2010
sourced by Amy Judd
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Amy Judd
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 18:19 on August 19th, 2010
Holy crap lock her up, good thing she doesn't have a call in Radio show like Dr. Laura, cause one can be assured Leftards would demand it!
at 02:50 on August 20th, 2010
I have a deaf child, and the pain I endured as a mother is beyond words, when others would call my son RETARD, this word is offensive and hurtful, I don't care how you use it, Jennifer Aniston, tell me she still in the back of her mind looks at people base on value, to say the lease, people with intellectual needs are of no value to her, she has no compassion, what if I said Jennifer Aniston, as you get older you get DUMDER, you has not only insult and offended WOMEN, BUT MEN AND NOW INTELLECTUAL WITH NEEDS. I as a mother will forgive but not forget what Jennifer said, she is a star and really should think before saying things that are OFFENSIVE TO SOCIALITY.
at 08:30 on August 20th, 2010
I have nothing but compassion for handicapped people. But i call my friends retards all the time. I call them gay, retard, homo, all sorts of stuff. I call my self retarded if i do something stupid. Look up retard in the dictionary. It is a real word with a real definition anyway. Stop crying.
at 14:54 on August 20th, 2010
Me too Johnny, the correct (politically) is not retard anymore it is challenged or special, so I dont buy the bleeding hearts who are offended. Fat people are called mobility deficient etc. Leftards made those words up so we normal people could call each other rat basterds etc.
Andrea, there is a big difference, you know your son is deaf, not retarded or hearing impaired. There are kids who dress different who are called worse by others. You cannot excuse all the ignorant asses in this world who call your son names, cause morons rarely know who they are!