Jennifer Aniston Scolded for Calling Herself a “Retard”

Jennifer Aniston might wish she’d made a verbal switch.

The head of a national advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities slammed  “The Switch” actress Thursday for using the word “retard” in an interview on “Live with Regis and Kelly,” Usmagazine.com reported.

During the interview, Aniston used the R-word when talking about her experience dressing up like Barbara Streisand for a photo spread in Bazaar magazine.

"You're playing dress up," Regis Philbin said.

"Yes, I play dress up. I do it for a living -- like a retard," Aniston replied to laughs from the audience.

Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc, called Aniston’s comment "extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate" to the more than 5 million people in the U.S. with intellectual disabilities and their families.

"Frankly, someone in her position ought to know better," Berns told Us. “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.”

Radio shock jock Howard Stern and Lindsay Lohan have also been criticized for using the word, according to Us.

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

Selected Reading: Us, The Arc, E!

 

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