Jennifer Aniston uses the R-word

On the Aug. 19 episode of "Live with Regis and Kelly" actress Jennifer Aniston uses the word 'retard' in an off the cuff self-deprecating remark. Unfortunately this pervasive use of the R-word is too common in our society today, and this is just another illustration of its vast pervasiveness.

Whether intentional or not, the R-word hurts people with intellectual disabilities and those that love them by equating their humanity to images of haplessness, incompetence or buffoonery.

Help us spread the word to end the R-word and promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities. Make your pledge today at www.r-word.org.

Footage from "Live with Regis and Kelly" is used only for educational and awareness purposes.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Jennifer Aniston
• Special Olympics
• retard
• retarded
• Regis and Kelly
• ABC
• best buddies
• Tim Shriver
• Barbara Streisand
• Regis Philbin
• Kelly Ripa

[killerhippo10]

WOW.......this campaign is dumb..she was talking about her self she wasn't calling someone a retard. People need to stop crying and being offended by every little word someone says.

[sadiemae0429]

So she said the R word she didn't mean anything buy it. I think some times people just use the word in conversation and they don't really think that people might take it wrong until after they say it. Oh well nobody's perfect unless your Angelina the saint!!!!!

[s0me0ne173]

I don't like all the nagative comments on this video,

is it so hard really hard for you not to say one word?

you should be embarassed

[imtotallyconfused]

@luksm77 it seems people can't accept the rights of marginalised groups to make their own decisions.

[MBGamingLegends]

@sadiemae0429 So if you don't mean anything by it that must make it ok! Shut up please.

[MsTerrificTyra]

@kmrs1959 actually they are using the r-word to say that something or someone is stupid which is sayiong that people with intecuall differences are stupid which is not true and is very offfensive and streo typical. that;s like saying ''thats so gay" when u mean something is stupid stupid.

[putzfrau89]

@kmrs1959 was she using the clinical definition of it? she doesnt appear to have any of the tell tale signs that would denote some type of mental disability, and i think we both know that based on her extensive spot in the limelight that she is indeed not mentally disabled. clearly the clinical term doesnt apply to her, so why is she using it? just because you deal with people who have intellectual disabilities doesnt mean you have any idea of what you are talking about, and clearly you dont.

[SomeonewhoisFrench]

It doesn't matter the definition of the word, but what people mean by it. Enough with this "It's just a clinical thing!" stuff. When someone says "That's retarded" or "Quit being a retard", do you think they mean it in a clinical way? No. They mean it as an insult. As something that is bad.

Of course you (to those complaining about it) have freedom of speech. And these people have the freedom of speech, too. The difference is they are fighting against ignorance, and you are perpetuating it.

[julieng9]

I don't think it's so much the word "retarded," when used in a medical tense, that is offensive so much as using it in a derogatory way to say something is stupid. It's one thing to say "my child is mentally retarded," and another thing entirely to say "my kid's being retarded." I am gay. I don't care if people call me gay--because I AM. But I get pretty darn offended when people say "that's gay," meaning "that's totally stupid." So does that mean *I'm* totally stupid? Since I'm gay and all?

[SarieContrary]

@FallingDown2100 would you feel the same way if she had said "Yeah, I was at this photo shoot, and I got to put my hair in kinky braids, like a n*gger." ? No.

People of class don't use the N word, and don't throw the word "retarded" around, either.

[TheOmegaParadigm]

I don't see the logic behind people with intellectual disabilities being offended by the use of "retard", because likelihood of it is that they won't be able to comprehend the use of the word in a negative fashion towards them or others due to that intellectual disability. I find it that people that perhaps have mentally retarded children, family or friends but are not retarded themselves are more often the ones offended, not those with the disability themselves.