Jennifer Aniston Blasted for Using the Word "Retard"
Credit: Dominique Charriau/WireImage.com
Jennifer Aniston has come under fire for using the word "retard" during an interview.
On Live with Regis and Kelly Thursday, the Switch star, 41, was discussing dressing up as Barbra Streisand for the September issue of Harper's Bazaar when she let the word slip.
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"You're playing dress up!" Regis told her. She replied, "Yes, I play dress up! I do it for a living, like a retard!"
Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc (a nonprofit advocate for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities), tells UsMagazine.com 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."
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Other celebs have been scolded for using the "R word," including Howard Stern and Lindsay Lohan.
"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."
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Adds Seckler, "We have a very passionate group of people advocating for change in their communities and schools to change the use of this word."
Tell Us What You Think
524no,jen, you dress up like a retread. my bro is dev. disabled and his backside looks better than your face.
Words that aren't meant to be hurtful can be sometimes. We find this word to be offensive because some people can take it the wrong way, in which case it promotes fear of people with special needs. There is not a system out there that can apply to each and every person, and so families will struggle their entire lives to make sure their loved one is taken care of. I think that in most cases, it would just be common to try to refrain from using the word, rather than hurting people who suffer enough daily hurt as it is!
People do not use the word "retard" (SLANG) meaning a "mentally disabled person" but rather to say something they did or something they saw was dumb or "retarded"... When I say, "wow, I am retarded" bc I did something wrong I am not thinking about being mentally disabled but rather I did something wrong/dumb... Retard = silly/doing something dumb NOT mentally disabled when used in common slang speech...Get over your sensitive, "retarded" (as in stupid not handicapped) selves...
Why do people make such a big deal? People who are mentally disabled are called "retarded". Its called "Mental retardation" It shouldn't be so insulting people today are way too sensitive.
Jennifer Aniston is SELFISH HYPOCRITE. She is an Honorary Board Member of the Lili Claire Foundation, an organization working to improve the lives of special needs children and their families, so her use of the R-word is particularly heinous. Conact Lili Claire and DEMAND that they remove her from their board. Also, continue to BOYCOTT her current BOMB and all future Aniston movies. Make her suffer the FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES of her refusal to apologize to the countless special needs children whom she has offended.
Hey, one day after Jen Aniston, there was another flub with the guest host dj calling all band members and band directors geeky. She was also talking about her private life with a high school principal. You should watch, very UN classy.
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I think some people will down grade Jen no matter what and they always say she need to change cause it's the same thing over n over so i say to them quit acting like a retard. The word Retard does not means people with a disability to me and more like someone who is being so dumb finding as to knowing the truth about something and still act the opposite of things. America needs to wake up and stop listening to these Retards of critics of Jennifer Aniston and see what a positive women rights supporter she is to those who voices is being drown out by the want to be saints of American Values. They do not speak for me cause i was raised by my mother along and doing good without my dad. If you have faith in the one and only father GOD things will be alright.
ps...is that really you? jen?...if so...I JUST ADORE YOU!!!...u go girl from a 52 yr old male!! you rock!!! like myself!! grin!! luv ya!! larry
HAVE THEY LOST ALL RATIONAL THOUGHT!!!!!!! FOR THE 1ST ADMENDMENT........NONE OF OUR WORDS SHALL EVER!!!!!!!! BE TAKEN FROM OUR MOUTHS!!!!!!!!!!!! to give up just one!!word.. ni__er for ex. is the loss of our freedom of speech (TO VOICE OUTLOUD!!!) what's next??...the word stupid!!!(coz it crushes our childrens feelings to call them that!!...soon the list of s-word ,z-word..h-word..i tell you people!!..you will use up the whole damn alphabet!! then what?.. start with latin words? roman numerals!!..i really don't like them..lets abolish the use of them!!! i'm too damn old !! for it to effect me!!..but my childs ..child! thats a whole different ballgame!!! better stop and think!! before you destroy our constitution....u think our gov. is screwed up now? just wait!!!!!!!! words for the wise!! WAKE UP & SMELL THE COFFEE ..or READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL...WHILE WE STILL CAN WRITE!!!
stupid people these days.. i didnt mean it against the retarded population.. or maybe i did
people seriously come on. i bet u she wasnt even thinking "o i am going to use the word to degrade people". she wasnt meaning to insult anyone but just that word to get across the point that she was trying to make. if this is offensive to intelectually or developmentally challenged people then maybe they should sue dictionary companies for putting the word in the dictionary...psych. get over it people its a word. using the N word is slightly different.
People need to get over themselves. Its just a word right? Seriously.
Michael Scott said it best when he said "You don't call a retarded person a retard, that's just poor taste. You call your friends retards when they're being retarded"..Seriously people need to get over it..Did she say this while making fun of people with special needs?? NOPE!!! People in this damn country are so damn sensitive!
oh wow its horrible when she says it but when carlos mencia was going around saying "de de dee" nobody didnt mind although everyone knew what it actually meant and everyone went around saying it. People are so sensitive these days and take every little thing up the butt. It's not like she killed a puppy and enjoyed it. GET OVER YOURSELVES and not everyone in this world goes around following celebs and doing what they do. only because jenn says something or doesnt, it wont make the whole world stop doing the exact same thing. some people actually use their brains!!
OMG everyone get over yourselves who think this is so very awful. Really? I use to get this behavior from the kids at my son's pre-school group if he did something 'wrong' during the day. They'd all run up and tattle. When I finally asked them if they were perfect that day...hmmm they had nothing to say and ran off. Gimme a break. I'll bet you every single last anchor and other 'expert' they've dusted off for comment have used these words, still use them or even worse at some time in their lives. I am so sick of the holier than thou attitude in this country. yuk. Not to mention that it's pretty ego-centric to think that anyone person is making a personal comment about a group of people at that it hurts their feelings? really?
Bottom line is..Jen should have known better. The fact that she uses it in ever day conversation, tells a lot about her character. I suppose everyone one on here is saying "get over it", thought it was OK when Michael Richards used the "N" word. It really shows how ignorant people still are...
WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY: RETARDED: slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress. Wow, so SHE ISNT ALLOWED TO SAY THAT? GET OVER IT...or you may be RETARDED YOURSELF.
BIG FRIGGIN' DEAL. GET OVER IT. WE ALL ACT "RETARDED" FROM TIME TO TIME. LOL. I can't even believe this is an issue. Stupid. Love ya JEN!
i think people need to lay off. i think its hard to be in the spot light all the time and in her position because always having to watch what you say. you never know who is going to twist things or turn things into what they are not. she would never mean it in a insulting mannor to people with developmental disabilities. for organizations to jump on this too so fast seems kinda silly they should be focusing on positive things not negative