David Livingston/Getty ImagesDr. Laura Schlessinger's habit of spouting incendiary remarks continues.
The controversial talk-radio host apologized for using the N-word during a rant on Tuesday's program in which she went off on an African-American caller, accusing her of being overly sensitive to racism.
"Yesterday, I did the wrong thing," Schlessinger said in comments at the opening of Wednesday's show. "I didn't intend to hurt people, but I did. And that makes it the wrong thing to have done."
Listen to her full apology here.
The incident began when the longtime syndicated radio personality took a call from "Jade," who asked her how to handle what she felt were racist remarks from white relatives and friends of her husband, who's also white.
But instead of addressing the issue at hand, Dr. Laura interrupted Jade after the latter mentioned family members' flagrant use of the N-word. She then repeated the slur several times after noting from the confines of her cozy studio the hypocrisy of black comics on HBO employing the N-word word consistently in their stand-up acts.
Wonder what Chris Rock thinks about that one?
After a quick break, Jade replied that she was taken aback by Schlessinger's casual use of a slight that historically has been uttered to denigrate African-Americans.
The good doctor then chastised the caller for allegedly taking her out of context and expressed bafflement that in an era where the U.S. has a black president, "we have more complaining about racism than ever."
"I didn't call anybody a n---er. Nice try, Jade. Actually sucky try. You need a sense of humor," cracked Dr. Laura in a snarky aside before suggesting, "Maybe you shouldn't marry outside your race."
The tirade was subsequently edited out of an audio recording on the show's website.
But Schlessinger, who was once picketed by gay groups in 2000 for calling homosexuality a "biological error," prompting a boycott and her TV show's cancellation, drew quick condemnation from various politicians and civil rights leaders. Among them was the Rev. Al Sharpton, head of the National Action Network who told CNN her logic that the N-word wasn't offensive was "extremely disturbing."
"At no point did she say that even during all of that it was wrong. It's wrong even if blacks say it," he said.
Dr. Laura seems to have realized the error of her outspoken ways in her mea culpa.
"I was attempting to make a philosophical point, and I articulated the N-word all the way out—more than one time. And that was wrong. I'll say it again—that was wrong," she said. "I ended up, I'm sure, with many of you losing the point I was trying to make, because you were shocked by the fact that I said the word. I, myself, realized I had made a horrible mistake, and was so upset I could not finish the show."
Schlessinger then read a letter on the air from an African-American listener who said she wasn't sure she'd listen to her radio show anymore after being offended by her rant. She then implored Jade to call her back so she could do her "best to be helpful, which is what she wanted from me in the first place and what she did not get."