Pick On Jennifer Aniston Month Continues Thanks to "Retard" Crack

Actress makes rare foray into the politically incorrect after verbal gaffe on this morning's Live With Regis and Kelly

At this point, we're thinking the end of the promotional trail can't come soon enough for Jennifer Aniston.

While talking up The Switch on—of all benign places—Live With Regis and Kelly this morning, everyone's favorite Friend veered slightly off her usual politically correct path.

Somewhere, Bill O'Reilly is salivating.

While discussing her recent Barbra Streisand-channeling Harper's Bazaar shoot, Aniston tried to play down the concentration and skill Regis Philbin and guest cohost Kristin Cruz credited her with having to maintain throughout the photo session. Which is exactly when things went regrettably off script.

"I played dress up," she explained. "I do it for a living, like a retard."

So, harmless self-deprecation or unbelievably insensitive attack? Depends on who you ask.

Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin presumably have Jen's back. A few other people, on the other hand...

"Special Olympics is always disappointed when the R-word is used, especially by someone who is influential to society," the organization said in a statement.

"The pervasive use of the R-word, even in an off-the-cuff self-deprecating manner, dehumanizes people with intellectual disabilities and perpetuates painful stereotypes that are a great source of suffering and negative stigma."

The CEO of The Arc, a nonprofit advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities also called out the tongue slip for being "extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate."

"Frankly, someone in her position ought to know better," Peter Bern said in a statement. "She is using language that is offensive to a large segment of the population in this country…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."

While it's clear that the ever affable Aniston never intended any such insult, we fully expect for her no doubt forthcoming apology to fully cover all those bases. And, if it's anything like last time, give us a chuckle, as well.

But so far, she's not commenting.