Gwyneth Paltrow Tweets the N-Word: Insensitive or Overreaction?

which network?

Just a joke people. I'm an African American myself. But...Just a joke people. Its either you have no life or you're just an overreacting humorless person. Watch some t.v or something would yuh.

The real question is whether celebrities can be excluded from the accepted social norm that says the use of that word by whites is considered vulgar, racist and yes, insensitive. I don't know that Gwyneth has a reputation for any kind of racist behavior but her use of the word as a white person, in my mind, shows that she is not only out of touch with the impact the word has on what I guess to be a large majority of Blacks, but that she is also unaware that her use of the word, as a respected celebrity whose opinion might influence others, actually elevates the word above it’s well deserved vile, base and contemptible status, into an area of verbal discourse where it might be mistaken as something that passes as ok, cool, or worse, socially acceptable. It cannot and should not ever be that.

"the accepted social norm that says the use of that word by whites is considered vulgar, racist and yes, insensitive"

NORM? I think not...

It's either racist, vulgar, an insensitive...or it's not. It doesn't matter what color your skin is. It's either that way for all...or none.

My comment is from a white perspective. I cannot comment from a black perspective.

How about from my view? A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE???

How about I don't "take it" at all?

then you don't

and your point being........? is it or not. define yourself.

I voted "insensitive" but maybe my comment wasn't clear.

If she wasn't a celebrity we would have never heard of this! Cut the crap, we pursue celebrities with the papratzi and comb the news for their frailties and faults as well as what they wear and where they go. Leave them alone and there will be no perception of favortism
If you or I had done this it is likely no one but our intended friends. This is the usual tempest in a teapot crap that is stirred up by the press. These were friends communicating with friends. If, as you say, this word so effects the large majority of blacks, then we should all have these open discussions. This is not a sacred word. If was once used in the most stupid and degrading way. It is now mostly used by black people as a bonding and comic thing. This is the journey a word has to take to be rehabilitated. Queer was once in the same place. Believe it or not so were Mick, Paddy,Dago, Wop, Bohunk and scores of other pejorative words that have been embraced by their former victims and are now used in a knowing and comic manner to remove the sting. However, the intentional use of any of these words to insult or defame anyone is still taken as it was meant by the speaker and met with the appropriate reaction. Black people are working this through and an open discussion of what is happening is an effort to understand and be a part of the rhabilitation. Let it roll.

Those referred to as Dagos and Wops weren't enslaved for 250 years. I don't think you can rehabilitate that word and I don't think it deserves to be. Got a black friend? I hope so. Try asking them if they mind you calling them the N word as a term of endearment because you're trying to rehabilitate it. Also: whether you like, they like it or I like it, celebs do have an impact with what they do and say and my point was simply that they need to be aware of it.

Point taken! but what is happening is happening!

this is stupid...

And just plain tacky

If her "friends" that she was speaking about didn't get upset why should the rest of the country? She wasn't talking to them anyway...

Just because people of color use the term doesn't make it okay to use racial slurs, even if you belong to that racial group.

it wasn't being used as a racial slur, did you even read this?

Doesn't matter.

If it's used in an intentionally hurtful manner, then yes. But, if it's not then there shouldn't be an issue. Like, really I hardly use the word accept in jokes. When my Caucasian friends, who have more issue with the word than I do, use it, it's never to hurt someone. It's just used in jest. Since it's JUST a word. And it's not even the actual word, just a variation.

I also like how she tried to talk ghetto. It was funny.

LOL EXACTLY!!!!

The offensiveness of the word, depends entirely on the context in which it is being used. Clearly, this tweet was not meant to be derogatory.

I actually got a pretty good laugh off of it the media is just trying to find something to gossip about she didn't say it maliciously just a joke that many didn't understand. So chill people just chill

Sick of everyone being so freakin politically correct. Get over it!

She was referencing a song. People are so bored with their lives that they are just looking to be offended.

It's not like she was calling someone the N word it's song.

Not that I'm for anyone saying the N word (not even black people), but rappers know that a lot of other people are going to be singing their songs and if they didn't want them to say the original lyrics or song title don't put it in the song.

I wouldn't use it.........

It's a word. People need to stop giving their power away over words and stop sweating the small stuff. Practice makes perfect (or damn close to perfect). I was lucky that my Uncle George (my dads best friend) taught me young.

He was a brilliant man...

Yes, in so many ways.

Don't like the word even if it is in a song title.

I don't care for the word; don't like hearing it used. But until EVERYONE can agree to stop using it, get over Ms. Paltrow's use of it, which, if I understand correctly, was a quote of a "song" title. That kind of "music" is another discussion altogether....

It is understandable that many people are offended by the n word. However, as long as people of ALL races continue to use it, we can't reasonably expect celebrities to NOT use it from time to time. Gwyneth made ONE faux pas! As some Radio personalities seem to make several of those on a daily basis, I think she should be cut a break on this!